The administration has already conducted 35 acknowledged strikes on suspected drug-running vessels in the Caribbean, resulting in 115 deaths, according to The New York Times. Officials have framed the operations as part of a broader effort to disrupt narcotics trafficking routes to the United States.
White House Defends Possible Expansion
Asked about the prospect of land attacks in Mexico, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in an email that the administration is “reasserting and enforcing the Monroe Doctrine to restore American preeminence in the Western Hemisphere, control migration, and stop drug trafficking.” Kelly added that the president “has many options at his disposal to continue to protect our homeland from illicit narcotics that kill tens of thousands of Americans every year.”
Trump has previously raised the possibility of cross-border strikes. In November, he told reporters in the Oval Office that he would approve operations in Mexico “whatever we have to do to stop drugs.”
Mexican Government Reiterates Sovereignty
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the latest comments during her daily press conference Friday in Mexico City. She said her administration would “deepen coordination” with U.S. agencies and instructed Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente to engage with the U.S. Department of State if discussions became necessary. “We are going to strengthen communication,” Sheinbaum stated, according to a translation provided by Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico welcomes cooperation but rejects any form of subordination. “It is necessary to reaffirm that in Mexico the people rule, and that we are a free and sovereign country—cooperation, yes; subordination and intervention, no,” she said, citing remarks originally reported by Reuters.
The Mexican leader had offered a similar response in November, warning that no U.S. military action would occur on Mexican soil without her consent.
Congress Examines Presidential Authority
Trump’s comments about Mexico arrive as lawmakers debate limits on the executive branch’s ability to deploy military force abroad. On Thursday, the U.S. Senate advanced the first stage of a bipartisan War Powers Resolution aimed at preventing additional operations in Venezuela. Five Republican senators, including Susan Collins of Maine, joined Democrats in supporting the measure. Collins said she backed the removal of Maduro but maintained that further military action would require congressional approval because “it does implicate the War Powers Act and Congress’s constitutional role.”
Over the past week, administration officials have also mentioned potential military moves involving Cuba, Colombia, and Greenland. The array of statements has drawn criticism from some members of the president’s party, although no formal legislation addressing those regions has reached the Senate floor.
Regional Security Environment
U.S. military involvement in Latin America has intensified since early 2025, with operations targeting maritime drug shipments, political actors labeled as threats, and now possibly land-based cartel infrastructure. The administration contends that the agenda is designed to curb the flow of fentanyl, cocaine, and other illegal substances that contribute to overdose deaths in the United States.
Mexico remains central to that strategy. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has long identified cartels operating south of the border as key suppliers for the American drug market. While Mexican and U.S. authorities routinely share intelligence, any unilateral American strike on Mexican territory would mark a significant escalation and could strain diplomatic relations.
For now, no timeline or operational details have been disclosed. The Pentagon has not publicly confirmed planning for ground missions in Mexico, and officials in Mexico City continue to insist that cooperation must occur within existing bilateral frameworks.
Crédito da imagem: AFP / Getty Images
