The President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the independence and sovereignty of Mexico are not up for negotiationand stressed that the relationship with the United States must be based on dialogue, collaboration and coordination, but without subordination. The message was given this Saturday, January 10, 2026, from Petatlán, Guerrero, during an event to deliver cards from the Wellbeing Programs.
“We always say that when we dialogue with any country in the world, and in particular with the United States, we can collaborate, we can coordinate, we are neighbors… And we talk, we negotiate, we work, but there is something that is not up for negotiation: and that is the independence and sovereignty of the country”: Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexico
Diplomatic tension after threats from Trump
The president’s statements occur in a context of growing bilateral tension with the United States, after President Donald Trump stated, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, that his country “will now begin to attack by land” to the drug trafficking cartels, this just days after the military intervention that promoted Venezuela and which led to the arrest of the president Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.
Photo: Archive
Given this scenario, President Sheinbaum affirmed on Friday that the Mexican government seeks to strengthen coordination with the United States within the framework of the binational security agreement.
During his morning conference, he reported that he asked Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente to establish direct contact with the secretary of the State Department and, if necessary, dialogue with President Trump to strengthen cooperation without compromising Mexico’s sovereignty.
Sheinbaum addressed this issue that same day when answering a question about the call he had on Thursday, January 8, with the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He said that they talked about the situation in Latin America and the defense of regional sovereignty, and explained that Mexico has a “understanding on security issues” agreement with the United States.
The president also mentioned that the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio He highlighted “the good coordination in security matters” between both countries, although he reiterated that Mexico does not want any type of military intervention in its territory.
It is worth remembering that in a conference held the previous Saturday, after announcing the capture of the Venezuelan president, donald trump pointed out that had to “do something” in Mexico in terms of combating drug trafficking, Although he said he had a good relationship with President Claudia Sheinbaum, he stated that “she does not control Mexico,” in reference to the power of the drug cartels.
Faced with these types of accusations, Sheinbaum has reiterated on different occasions that his government does not accept any type of foreign military intervention in national territory and that during his administration homicides have decreased by 40%, hundreds of tons of narcotics have been seized and the extradition of dozens of people linked to criminal organizations has been completed.
Social programs and message from Guerrero
On the other hand, during the event this Saturday in Petatlán, Sheinbaum also highlighted the advances in social matters. He pointed out that after 36 years of neoliberal governments, the Fourth Transformation managed to lift 13.5 million people out of poverty, thanks to the accumulated increase of 150% in the minimum wage and the implementation of the Wellbeing Programs. By 2026, the Government of Mexico will allocate one trillion pesos to these supports, several of which are already recognized as constitutional rights.
Among them is the Pension for the Welfare of the Elderly, established in Article Four of the Constitution. Sheinbaum also announced the strengthening of the paving program for federal highways and new roads, in coordination with the government of the state of Guerrero.
Social investment in Guerrero
For its part, the Secretary of Welfare, Ariadna Montiel Reyes, reported that more than 20 million people will receive one of the welfare pensions in 2026.
While the general coordinator of Wellbeing Programs, Carlos Torres Rosas, He explained that the goal of the Second Floor of the Fourth Transformation is to reach 42.9 million beneficiaries throughout the country. The social investment planned this year for Guerrero amounts to 37 billion pesos.
Lastly, the Governor Evelyn Salgado He highlighted that four out of every 10 Guerrero residents currently receive some social support and recognized the federal government’s decision to elevate these programs to constitutional status.
With information from Emmanuel Rodríguez and agencies
