Under President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico is working to rebuild its security cooperation with the United States, following a period of strained relations during the tenure of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The renewed partnership has seen Omar García Harfuch, the Security Cabinet coordinator, play a pivotal role. He has engaged in multiple discussions with high-ranking US officials to enhance intelligence sharing and tackle organized crime. Mexican authorities note that faster exchanges of information have enabled more rapid responses to criminal activities.
Sheinbaum’s administration has reported significant achievements, including the arrest of tens of thousands of suspects, substantial seizures of weapons and drugs, and the dismantling of numerous clandestine drug labs. Moreover, Mexico has expedited the extradition of prominent criminal figures to the United States and observed a notable reduction in fentanyl trafficking. These efforts mark a departure from the policies of the López Obrador administration, which had shut down a US intelligence unit in Mexico and imposed stricter controls on foreign security agents operating within its borders.
The former administration’s approach led to deteriorating relations, exacerbated by the 2020 arrest of ex-Defense Minister Salvador Cienfuegos and disagreements over organized crime investigations. Tensions reached a peak in 2024 when reports surfaced suggesting that drug cartel funds had been linked to López Obrador’s 2006 presidential campaign. Though these claims did not result in formal charges, they further eroded trust between the Mexican and US governments.
Despite the progress in bilateral cooperation, President Sheinbaum remains firm in asserting Mexico’s sovereignty and the necessity for mutual respect in its dealings with the United States. Her government has expressed concerns over what it perceives as attempts by US officials to influence or disrupt the unity of Mexico’s security leadership. Consequently, while both nations aim to bolster their joint efforts against organized crime, Mexico insists that any intelligence collaboration must align with its sovereignty and national priorities.