Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday rejected the idea of U.S. troops entering Mexico and criticized what she described as foreign intervention in Latin America, following recent U.S. military action in Venezuela and comments from President Donald Trump warning that drug cartels are “running Mexico.”
As Fox News reported, speaking at a press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum said Mexico would not accept outside military involvement and emphasized national sovereignty as a core principle of her administration.
“We categorically reject intervention in the internal affairs of other countries,” Sheinbaum said, according to an official transcript released by her office.
“I don’t believe in an invasion; I don’t think it’s something they take seriously,” Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday in her first press conference since US forces snatched Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro https://t.co/KK92c3s8nw
— Bloomberg (@business) January 5, 2026
“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 remarks followed a U.S. military operation carried out Saturday in Caracas, Venezuela, during which American forces extracted former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their compound.
U.S. authorities said the two were transferred to the USS Iwo Jima and flown to New York, where they were arraigned Monday in Manhattan.
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.
Flores is charged with three counts, including cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons-related offenses.
In Mexico City, Sheinbaum said the arrest of Venezuela’s former leader and warnings from Trump that Mexico must “get their act together” would not alter Mexico’s position on sovereignty and self-determination.
Trump made the comments Sunday while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One. He described Sheinbaum as a “terrific person,” but said criminal organizations dominate large parts of Mexico.
“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,” Trump said.
Sheinbaum responded by stressing ongoing cooperation between Mexico and the United States in combating drug trafficking, organized crime, and the flow of fentanyl, while rejecting the notion of direct U.S. military involvement.
“I don’t believe in an invasion. I don’t even think it’s something they’re taking very seriously,” Sheinbaum told reporters in Spanish when asked about a possible U.S. intervention, according to Reuters’ translation.
—¿Usted tiene miedo, como asegura Donald Trump? —preguntó la reportera.
—Je, je, je… son formas de hablar del presidente Trump. Yo no creo en una invasión, ni siquiera creo que ellos lo estén tomando muy en serio —respondió Claudia Sheinbaum.@Claudiashein pic.twitter.com/LL2T1jj8vR
— José Díaz (@JJDiazMachuca) January 5, 2026
She also said Trump has repeatedly raised the idea of allowing U.S. troops into Mexico during phone calls between the two leaders.
“We have said no very firmly — first because we defend our sovereignty, and second because it is not necessary,” Sheinbaum said.
Mexican officials did not indicate any change in bilateral security cooperation but reiterated that enforcement operations on Mexican soil would remain under Mexican control.
She needs to put the Mexican Air Force into Condition One. Crop dusters fully armed and ready.
This Cartel puppet had better learn quickly that we don’t need her permission to put Boots on the Ground. She might wake up one morning at 3am and see SEALS getting ready to send her on a nice trip North !!!!