US Presses Mexico to Allow American Forces in Joint Raids on Fentanyl Labs
WASHINGTON / MEXICO CITY — The United States has intensified pressure on the Mexican government to authorize the deployment of U.S. forces on Mexican soil, proposing that American operatives join raids on fentanyl laboratories to combat drug cartels more effectively.
The proposal, which has been renewed and prioritized under President Donald Trump, seeks to embed U.S. Special Operations forces or Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officers alongside Mexican troops during tactical operations. U.S. officials argue that direct American involvement is necessary to dismantle the complex networks responsible for manufacturing and trafficking synthetic opioids, specifically fentanyl, which continues to drive a deadly overdose crisis in the United States.
According to officials familiar with the discussions, the Trump administration views the current level of cooperation as insufficient given the scale of the threat. The White House has argued that the technical expertise and operational capabilities of U.S. elite units would significantly strengthen the fight against the cartels, which Washington contends have grown powerful enough to rival state authority in certain regions.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, has firmly rejected the request, citing constitutional mandates and the preservation of national sovereignty. In a press conference following the renewed U.S. push, President Sheinbaum emphasized that while Mexico is committed to combating organized crime, it will not permit foreign military personnel to operate within its borders.
“We have made it very clear that our sovereignty is not up for negotiation,” Sheinbaum stated. “We are willing to collaborate, share intelligence, and work together on the strategy, but the responsibility for operations on Mexican territory belongs to Mexican forces.”
The rejection highlights the ongoing diplomatic friction between the two nations. While President Sheinbaum characterized recent conversations with President Trump as “good” and productive regarding general security cooperation, she ruled out any scenario involving a U.S. military intervention.
This latest diplomatic standoff comes amidst a broader U.S. strategy to take a more aggressive stance against transnational criminal organizations. The Trump administration has previously floated the idea of designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and has not ruled out unilateral action if the flow of deadly narcotics is not curbed.
Security analysts warn that while the integration of U.S. forces could theoretically improve the tactical success rate of raids, it risks causing a severe diplomatic rupture. Such a move could undermine the existing intelligence-sharing frameworks that are currently in place, potentially stalling broader security cooperation between the neighbors.
For now, the proposal remains a point of contention, with Washington demanding “tangible results” in the drug war and Mexico City drawing a red line at foreign military intervention.
