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The nation's President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly denied reports that the United States is planning to send military forces into Mexico to combat dominant drug trafficking organizations, emphasizing that she has repeatedly declined such offers from Donald Trump.

“This will not occur,” Sheinbaum stated during her regular press briefing on Tuesday. “We do not agree to any form of interventionism or external interference.”

Background on the Reports

The President's comments follow a report citing present and past US officials that the Trump administration has started planning for a mission to deploy US troops and intelligence officers into Mexico.

The report indicated that although the operation was not imminent and a conclusive choice had been reached, the initial phases of preparation had commenced along with discussions about the scope of the deployment.

Furthermore, the account mentioned that American forces would operate under the authority of the American spy agencies, and that officers from the CIA would take part as well.

The Nation's Response

But the Mexican leader was adamant that her country had “no information” about such a proposed intervention, even though she acknowledged that in phone calls with Trump, he had offered to send military support and other assistance to tackle criminal groups.

“I have repeatedly stated thank you very much, President Trump. But no, our country is a free, sovereign and autonomous nation,” Sheinbaum declared.

Past Cooperation and Current Strains

The two nations have historically worked together in tackling drug-trafficking groups, with the United States at times sending CIA, armed forces and Drug Enforcement Administration operatives to assist Mexico's initiatives to combat criminal networks.

But the entry of US troops into Mexico to directly confront the drug lords, particularly without Mexico's agreement, would be an unprecedented move that would likely fracture an already tenuous partnership between the two countries.

Latest Actions and Agreements

The US government has designated addressing criminal organizations a central pillar of its international strategy: in last winter, the US classified multiple drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.

It has also initiated a series of attacks against suspected narco vessels, including striking vessels in the Pacific Ocean that resulted in the deaths of 14 alleged traffickers in late October.

While authorities saved one of the survivors from the strike, Sheinbaum criticized the strikes and ordered representatives from her government to address them with the US ambassador to Mexico.

On that day, she also noted that the country had reached a security agreement with the United States that was discussed over several months.

“We are going to continue working within this cooperative structure, which has very clear principles … which honors our independence and our territorial integrity.”

The President's Position on Anti-Narcotics Strategy

The national leader has also appeared less enthusiastic on military-focused anti-narcotics tactics than her preceding leaders: on Monday, she dismissed any changes to the nation's security strategy despite the murder of a local official in a Mexican state.

“Some are calling for militarization and war, as occurred with the anti-drug campaign,” Sheinbaum commented. “That didn’t work.”