President Sheinbaum Announces Reforms Against U.S. Interference in Mexico
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Feb. 20, 2025. Photo: EFE
February 20, 2025 Hour: 11:36 am
Her decision comes after U.S. President Donald Trump designated six drug cartels as ‘terrorist’ organizations.
On Thursday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced two constitutional reforms to prevent foreign interference and impose the “harshest penalty” on foreigners who intervene in her country. These decisions come after U.S. President Donald Trump designated six drug cartels as “terrorist” organizations.
RELATED:
Mexico Opens Doors to Cuban Medical Specialists to Strengthen Healthcare Sector
During her daily press conference, Sheinbaum also stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) will expand its lawsuit against arms manufacturers and sellers in the United States to accuse them of being complicit in terrorism.
“Regarding that designation, we want to make it clear that we do not negotiate our sovereignty. That designation cannot become an opportunity for the United States to violate our sovereignty,” she said.
“They can call those groups whatever they choose. But with Mexico, there is collaboration and coordination. It is never about subordination, interference, or, much less, invasion,” Sheinbaum emphasized.
Currently, the U.S. State Department considers the Sinaloa, Jalisco New Generation (CJNG), Gulf, Northeast, Nueva Familia Michoacana, and United cartels as terrorist organizations.
“Both countries want to combat organized crime groups that carry out illegal activities in both nations. That is why we are working very well on coordination. However, we must ensure that this is a matter of collaboration and coordination—never a violation of Mexico’s sovereignty in any way,” Sheinbaum stressed.
Changes to the Constitution
Sheinbaum proposes amending Article 40 of the Constitution to reaffirm that “the people of Mexico, under no circumstances, will accept interventions, interferences, or any other act from abroad that harms the integrity, independence, and sovereignty of the Nation.”
This includes “coups d’etat, election interference, or the violation of Mexican territory, whether by land, water, sea, or airspace.”
“Nor will any intervention in investigations or prosecutions be allowed without the express authorization and collaboration of the Mexican State, within the framework of applicable laws.”
The Mexican president also proposes amending Article 19 of the Constitution to stipulate that any foreigner engaging in illegal activities linked to these interferences will receive the harshest possible penalty, as well as mandatory pretrial detention.
Mexico Increases Its Claims Against U.S. Arms
Following the designation, the president escalated her demands against the U.S. arms industry, which, according to a Justice Department report from January, is the source of nearly three out of four weapons used by organized crime in Mexico.
The reform to Article 19 also proposes that “any national or foreigner involved in the manufacture, distribution, sale, transfer, or illegal entry of weapons into national territory” will receive “the harshest possible penalty.”
Meanwhile, Mexican diplomacy will expand the lawsuit initially filed by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (2018-2024) against U.S. arms manufacturers and sellers, accusing them of knowingly supplying these weapons to cartels in Mexico.
“Given this designation, there must be a connection between those who sell weapons to these criminal groups, which have now been labeled as such by the U.S. government. Therefore, this lawsuit will be expanded to include those who sell weapons that are smuggled into Mexico as accomplices,” Sheinbaum said.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
