Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, has made it clear that her country disapproves of the recent attack which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Currently facing drug charges in the U.S., Maduro’s situation has been used by Sheinbaum to criticize the United States regarding Mexico’s cartel issues.
During a news conference in the morning, Sheinbaum read from a prepared statement denouncing the U.S. operation that led to Maduro’s arrest and furthered the ongoing violence in Venezuela.
“Mexico stands firm on its long-standing principle of non-interference in other nations’ matters,” Sheinbaum stated.
She argued that, despite the current narrative, any foreign intervention in Latin America has never successfully fostered democracy or happiness, nor has it achieved lasting democratic governance.
“I believe unilateral actions and aggression shouldn’t underpin international relations today; they don’t create peace or prosperity,” she added.
Sheinbaum emphasized that every nation should have the autonomy to choose its path regarding political, social, and economic models without external pressure.
“Mexico isn’t tied to any ideology or other countries,” she remarked.
Her remarks followed U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment that cartels, rather than the government, are effectively in charge of Mexico. Sheinbaum criticized Trump’s attempts to push for direct U.S. action against the cartels, suggesting he was too intimidated by them to initiate any substantial change.
In discussing organized crime, Sheinbaum noted the cooperation between Mexico and the U.S., highlighting aspects like crime statistics, drug seizures, and extradition as examples of success. She maintained that Mexico’s objective is to lessen violence and achieve sustainable peace.
Yet, shortly after, she suggested that the violence was largely the result of the U.S. government supplying weapons that are smuggled into Mexico. Interestingly, Sheinbaum did not address the inefficacy of her own country’s security forces in tackling the flow of legal weapons from the U.S. that are illegal in Mexico.
She also pointed to U.S. consumption issues but didn’t mention that Mexico plays a major role as a drug smuggler and distributor, largely due to deep-rooted corruption within its own government.
Beyond combating drug syndicates in both nations, Sheinbaum advocated for addressing the fundamental drivers of U.S. drug consumption while promoting family values and education as solutions.
“In Mexico, the people guide the direction,” Sheinbaum concluded. “We support cooperation but reject subordination and interference.”
