Emir Olivares Alonso
La Jornada newspaper
Thursday, September 4, 2025, p. 3
Mexico and the United States drawn a new security route in security focused on “dismantling” cartels, counteracting drug and weapons trafficking, and attending irregular migration.
In a joint statement, in which they account for bilateral understanding, they point out that “specific and immediate” actions will be developed to guarantee a safe border.
Yesterday, the governments of both countries agreed the border security cooperation program and application of the law, which “is based on the principles of reciprocity, respect for territorial sovereignty and integrity, shared and differentiated responsibility, as well as mutual trust.”
The commitments achieved were presented in the context of the first official visit to Mexico of the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
They are the result of several months of continuous negotiations between the teams of Presidents Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Donald Trump, this from the new bilateral dynamics established with the strategy of the tycoon against the groups of organized crime – which includes its designation as “terrorist organizations” – and its antimigration policies, as well as the threats to impose tariffs by way of pressure for the Mexican government will reinforce their measures against the cartels and to stop migratory flows.
The White House representative and his delegation met yesterday morning with the president and cabinet officials for an hour and a half in the National Palace. Immediately after the meeting, the two administrations announced the joint document with part of the content of the understanding.
“The objective is to work together to dismantle transnational organized crime through reinforced cooperation between our respective national security institutions, security forces and judicial authorities,” they said.
▲ President Claudia Sheinbaum and the US Secretary of State, during her meeting in the Palace.Photo Peláez
As part of the agreements, they expressed, attention will be given to the “irregular movement of people through the border.”
Cooperation, they said, will be executed through “specific and immediate” actions, with which security will be strengthened along the shared border; It aims to stop the traffic of fentanil and other illicit drugs, and put an end to the illegal passage of weapons.
In order to evaluate the advances, they agreed to establish a high -level group that will meet periodically to monitor mutual commitments and actions taken within their own countries.
Each nation will develop actions within its own territories, which will include “measures to counteract cartels, strengthen border security, eliminate clandestine border tunnels, address illicit financial flows, improve collaboration to prevent fuel theft and increase inspections, investigations and judicial processes in order to stop the flow of drugs and weapons”.
Mexico and Washington said that the close collaboration they have maintained in the first months of the two new administrations “has allowed us to ensure the border, reduce the traffic of fentanyl and advance in the exchange of intelligence, all within our respective legal frameworks.”
They expressed their commitment to further strengthen the collaboration in public health and coordinate campaigns aimed at the citizens of each nation to prevent the abuse of illegal substances and opioids.
“Both governments reaffirm their determination to cooperate, protect our citizens and make our communities safer.”
