▲ The President stressed that she does not see risks in the relationship with the United States, but acknowledged that a special situation has been experienced since the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House.Photo María Luisa Severiano
Alonso Urrutia and Néstor Jiménez
La Jornada Newspaper
Tuesday, January 6, 2026, p. 5
Mexico “categorically” rejects the armed action of the United States in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, since the history of Latin America shows that intervention has never brought democracy, it has never generated well-being or lasting stability.
“Mexico maintains with conviction that America does not belong to a doctrine or a power. The continent belongs to the people of each of the countries that make it up,” said President Claudia Sheinbaum.
In a press conference, the president presented a position of the Mexican government regarding the situation that prevails in Venezuela, in which she stressed that the sovereignty and self-determination of the people – which are established in the Constitution and govern the country’s foreign policy – are not optional or negotiable, they are fundamental principles of international law and must always be respected without exceptions. “Unilateral action, invasion, cannot be the basis of international relations of the 21st century, they do not lead to peace or development.”
He highlighted that the relationship between Mexico and the United States includes bilateral coordination and collaboration in various areas on the basis of shared responsibility, especially in matters of security, but without subordination and with full respect for the sovereignty of both countries.
He highlighted that Mexico cooperates with the United States in this area, even for humanitarian reasons, so that fentanyl does not reach young Americans.
“However, it is important to emphasize that when we talk about shared responsibility, respect and mutual trust, that this violence that is experienced in our country has among its causes the illegal entry of high-powered weapons from US territory, as well as the serious problem of drug consumption in the neighboring country.” For this reason, he urged the Washington government to firmly combat the groups that distribute drugs and launder money in the two nations.
–Beyond President Donald Trump’s way of communicating, to which you have always expressed himself, do you not see a risk, no matter how minimal, in these statements for Mexico?
– No… If there was no communication of any kind, if we did not have collaboration, if Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the spokesperson for the United States government, and President Trump himself had not referred to the good relationship we have and the coordination that exists, well, maybe we would be worried, right?
He stressed that this does not mean that his government is standing idly by. He dismissed the possibility of an eventual invasion of Mexico: “I do not believe in an intervention, not even that it is something that they are taking very seriously.”
Few support foreign action
The President asserted that any intervention would not solve anything, a position that has been communicated to the US government, in parallel with the vindication of the principles that govern in Mexico related to the defense of sovereignty and national territory.
He stated that it is a position shared by the vast majority in the country, because there are very few who agree with an intervention, since “not only does it not help, we have no idea who they are going to bomb or what? Also, what that would imply.”
In the position he presented, he asserted that it is necessary to reaffirm that in Mexico the people rule and that we are a free, independent and sovereign country. Cooperation, yes; subordination and intervention, no, he reiterated.
Although he emphasized that he does not see risks in the relationship with the United States, he acknowledged that “there is a special situation that has been experienced since President Trump arrived, but we will always seek understanding while maintaining our firm principles.”
He commented that this weekend he spoke by telephone with the presidents of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, and of Colombia, Gustavo Petro – who heads the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States – about the invasion of Venezuela, before the joint statement was issued, which also included Chile, Brazil and Uruguay.
He celebrated the position of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which he considered to be very forceful, as he has always been, because the US intervention in Venezuela is no less important.
Strengthening multilateralism
The president considered that the way out of this situation lies in strengthening international multilateralism that makes it possible to vindicate the world order, based on the United Nations Charter and international law still in force.
He insisted that the United Nations must be strengthened, but it is imperative that this organization get out of this bureaucratic lethargy and truly become a space for building peace in the world.
When questioning the viability of the route followed by the United States in Venezuela, the President claimed the importance of seeking regional dialogue on the basis of respect for sovereignty to confront, among other aspects, the growing economic competition from Asia and, especially, from China.
It is necessary to promote regional economic integration based on shared production chains, fair trade and benefits for all countries on the continent that allow us to be self-sufficient, as a region, while competing with the growth of Asia.
This implies conceiving social well-being as the central axis of development. Economic growth that does not reduce inequalities or poverty cannot be considered true progress. This “requires permanent dialogue between equals. The stability of the hemisphere is built with understanding, cooperation and mutual respect.”
