Mexican President Rejects US Military Deployment, Cites Sovereignty Concerns

Mexican President Condemns U.S. Intervention in Venezuela, Rejects Military Presence in Mexico

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly condemned what she described as U.S. intervention in Venezuela following the dramatic capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by American forces. Speaking at a press conference in Mexico City on Monday, Sheinbaum reaffirmed her government’s commitment to national sovereignty.

“We categorically reject intervention in the internal affairs of other countries,” Sheinbaum stated. “The history of Latin America is clear and forceful, the intervention has never brought democracy, it has never generated well-being or lasting stability. Only people can build their own future, decide their path, exercise sovereignty over their natural resources and freely define their form of government.”

Her comments came in response to the U.S. military operation in Caracas on Saturday, during which American forces extracted Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their compound. The couple was transported aboard the USS Iwo Jima and flown to New York, where they faced arraignment in Manhattan on Monday.

Maduro faces four federal charges: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine-guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine-guns and destructive devices. His wife faces three similar charges, excluding narco-terrorism conspiracy.

The Mexican president’s remarks also addressed growing tension with the United States regarding security cooperation. Following Maduro’s capture, President Donald Trump issued warnings suggesting Mexico needs to “get their act together,” particularly regarding cartel activity.

While Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he thinks Sheinbaum is a “terrific person,” he added that “the cartels are running Mexico.” He continued, “We’re going to have to do something. We’d love Mexico to do it, they’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately the cartels are very strong in Mexico.”

Sheinbaum dismissed concerns about a potential U.S. military intervention in Mexico. “I don’t believe in an invasion. I don’t even think it’s something they’re taking very seriously,” she told reporters in Spanish. However, she revealed that Trump has repeatedly insisted during their phone conversations that the U.S. Army be allowed to enter Mexico.

“We have said no very firmly — first because we defend our sovereignty, and second because it is not necessary,” Sheinbaum emphasized.

The Mexican president noted that her country is already cooperating with the United States on fighting drug trafficking, organized crime, and the flow of fentanyl, suggesting that military intervention would be both unwelcome and unnecessary.

The dispute highlights the complex diplomatic relationship between Mexico and the United States, particularly regarding security issues and sovereignty concerns. Mexico has historically been sensitive to U.S. intervention in Latin America, a position that Sheinbaum’s administration appears determined to maintain.

The situation also underscores broader regional tensions following the unprecedented U.S. operation in Venezuela. The capture of Maduro represents one of the most dramatic American interventions in Latin America in recent decades, drawing varied reactions across the region.

As the United States pursues its case against Maduro and his wife in federal court, the diplomatic fallout continues to reverberate throughout Latin America, with Mexico taking a firm stance against what it perceives as a concerning precedent of external intervention in sovereign nations.