Description: The consistent political and diplomatic clashes between US President Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum have escalated after Sheinbaum denied the proposal outlined by Trump to involve the US military in anti – drug trafficking operations on Mexican territory. The countries despite being close partners and allies have clashed over migration, trade, the fight against drug trafficking and the cartels which were labeled as terrorist organizations by the Trump administration. Tensions on the southern border have escalated as both countries have deployed members of their military and security forces in the past couple of months, to reinforce control and counter illegal migration and cartel operations. The US Department of Defense has also recently marked two areas of the US – Mexico border as military zones, stating the armed forces would have absolute decision making power and operational accountability in those areas.
Impact: Trump’s increased pressure on neighboring Mexico has prompted President Sheinbaum to adopt a stronger stance in bilateral relations with the US administration. US troop deployment on Mexican territory would implode tensions between the two countries and further damage the already depleted relations. The measures undertaken by the Trump administration such as the enhanced deployment of security and migration forces on the border coupled with the tariffs threat, have caused serious consequences on Mexico’s internal security situation. Cartels and cartel fractions have repeatedly engaged in armed confrontations which substantially degraded the already fragile internal security situation in Mexico. Trump’s pressure on Mexico is aimed at achieving fast tracked results which is a wrong strategy when facing prolonged issues such as the war against the cartels and the fentanyl pandemic. The troop deployment proposal represents just another move to diplomatically pressure Mexico into intensifying the war against drug trafficking while aligning themselves with regional US strategic goals.