MEXICO CITY — Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans on Thursday to introduce constitutional reforms aimed at safeguarding Mexico's sovereignty following the US designation of six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Mexico's Response to US Designations
The US designations have sparked concerns in Mexico that they might pave the way for US military involvement on Mexican soil in the pursuit of these cartels, a scenario vehemently opposed by Mexico.
President Sheinbaum emphasized, "The Mexican people will not tolerate any form of external intervention that threatens the nation's integrity, independence, and sovereignty."
The recent designations of eight criminal organizations based in Latin America were officially announced in the US Federal Register on Thursday, in compliance with an executive order issued by President Trump on January 20. By labeling these groups as foreign terrorist organizations, the US aims to exert greater pressure on them.
Protecting Mexico's Independence
President Sheinbaum reiterated during her daily briefing that Mexico would not permit any external interference in its investigative or prosecutorial processes without the consent and cooperation of the Mexican government.
Building on the measures implemented by her predecessor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum intends to enshrine existing limitations on the activities of foreign agents in the Mexican constitution.
She stressed, "We want to make it unequivocally clear in response to these designations that we will not compromise our sovereignty. This should not be exploited as a pretext for encroaching on our sovereignty by the United States."
Strengthening Penalties for Foreign Offenders
In addition to constitutional reforms, Sheinbaum's administration proposes harsher penalties under Mexican law for foreigners involved in the production, smuggling, and distribution of firearms. Mexico has consistently called for increased efforts from the US to stem the flow of weapons into Mexico from American arms dealers and manufacturers.
With a legislative majority in both chambers, President Sheinbaum's Morena party and its allies have successfully passed various constitutional amendments, showcasing their commitment to enhancing national security and reinforcing Mexico's sovereignty.