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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum appears to be taking steps to cooperate with the United States as the Trump administration continues to go after dangerous drug cartels that threaten American lives.
“I had a very productive telephone conversation with President Claudia Sheinbaum, of Mexico,” President Trump announced on Thursday.
He continued, “It went extremely well for both Countries. Much of it was focused on the Border, stopping Drug Trafficking, and Trade. We will be speaking again, soon, and ultimately, setting up meetings in our respective Countries.”
This is good news for Mexico, following President Trump’s November comments about potentially taking action in the interior of the country amid the administration’s quest to totally stem the flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl into the United States.
“Would I launch strikes into Mexico to stop drugs? It’s okay with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs,” he said at the time.
These comments were made before the U.S. military carried out Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela. The operation resulted in the successful arrest of Nicolas Maduro and America’s seizure of the Venezuelan oil reserves.
Earlier this month, President Sheinbaum told the president that she “did not agree with interventions,” as demonstrated by the operation in Venezuela, according to the Associated Press.
She told the president that Mexico did not want military help in dealing with the cartels. “We told him, so far it’s going very well, it’s not necessary, and furthermore there is Mexico’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and he understood,” she stated, per the outlet.
However, Sheinbaum’s more recent decision to work with President Trump bodes well for both countries and even garnered praise from the president. “Mexico has a wonderful and highly intelligent Leader — They should be very happy about that!” the president proclaimed on Truth Social.
President Sheinbaum conveyed a positive attitude toward their phone call on Thursday. She referred to their conversation this week as “productive and cordial.”
“We continue to make progress on trade issues and the bilateral relationship,” she said on X. “We agreed that both teams will continue working together. I also had the pleasure of greeting his wife Melania, whom I met during my recent visit to Washington.”