The United States is escalating efforts to persuade Mexico to allow U.S. military forces to participate in operations against drug cartels on Mexican soil, according to a report by The New York Times citing U.S. officials. The initiative follows ongoing concerns in Washington about the role of cartels in the production and trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs into the United States.
U.S. officials have proposed that American forces — potentially including Special Operations troops or officers from the Central Intelligence Agency — accompany Mexican soldiers on raids targeting suspected fentanyl laboratories within Mexico. The officials described the discussions as part of broader diplomatic efforts to enhance cooperation against organized crime.
President Donald Trump has publicly emphasized his administration’s focus on combating drug trafficking along the U.S.–Mexico border, telling Fox News last week that Mexican cartels “are running Mexico” and suggesting that U.S. forces might strike land targets tied to cartel operations. The remarks marked a continuation of Trump’s campaign-era promises to take a more aggressive stance against cartels.
However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly declined the idea of U.S. military intervention on Mexican territory, reaffirming her country’s constitutional commitment to national sovereignty. After a recent phone call with Trump on security and drug trafficking matters, Sheinbaum described the conversation as “good” but said that U.S. military intervention was “unnecessary,” underscoring Mexico’s preference for cooperation without direct foreign military involvement.
The renewed U.S. request for expanded operations reportedly followed Washington’s successful capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a raid on January 3 — an action that has heightened diplomatic and security discussions in the region. According to analysts and officials familiar with the situation, the Trump administration’s broader counter-drug strategy increasingly intersects with geopolitical concerns in Latin America.
Despite the push from Washington, direct U.S. military involvement in Mexico remains politically sensitive. Mexico’s constitution requires legislative approval for foreign troops to enter the country, and Sheinbaum has emphasized that her government will continue to fight cartels primarily through national law enforcement and security forces, with U.S. support limited to coordination and intelligence sharing.
Both the White House and Mexico’s foreign ministry had not commented publicly on the New York Times report at the time of this article.
The discussions reflect ongoing tensions and cooperation between the two neighboring countries on drug policy, border security, and broader regional stability — issues that have dominated aspects of bilateral relations for decades.
