Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced plans to amend the nation’s constitution in response to the U.S. government’s designation of six Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. The proposed reforms aim to safeguard Mexico’s sovereignty by prohibiting foreign military actions within its borders without explicit government consent.
The U.S. State Department’s recent designation includes prominent cartels such as the Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación, which are heavily involved in fentanyl production and trafficking into the United States. This move has raised concerns in Mexico about potential U.S. military interventions targeting these groups.
President Sheinbaum emphasized Mexico’s commitment to collaboration and coordination with the U.S. but firmly rejected any form of subordination or foreign interference. She stated, “We do not negotiate sovereignty,” underscoring the nation’s stance against unilateral actions that could infringe upon its independence.
The proposed constitutional amendments focus on two key areas:
- Prohibiting Unauthorized Foreign Intervention: Amending Article 19 to ban any foreign acts that could harm Mexico’s integrity, independence, or sovereignty.
- Strengthening Penalties for Arms Trafficking and Sovereignty Violations: Modifying Article 40 to enforce automatic pretrial detention and impose maximum penalties on individuals involved in illegal arms trafficking or those violating Mexico’s sovereignty.
These reforms are intended to deter unauthorized foreign military actions and address issues such as illegal arms trafficking, which have exacerbated violence related to drug cartels within Mexico.
The U.S. government’s designation of these cartels as terrorist organizations allows for enhanced sanctions and legal actions against individuals and entities supporting them. However, critics argue that this could serve as a pretext for U.S. military operations on Mexican soil, a prospect that has been a point of contention between the two nations.
President Sheinbaum’s administration has also indicated plans to expand legal actions against U.S. gun manufacturers, holding them accountable for contributing to the illegal arms flow into Mexico. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of curbing violence and asserting Mexico’s legal rights on the international stage.
With her party, Morena, holding a majority in both chambers of Congress, the proposed constitutional reforms are expected to pass, reinforcing Mexico’s commitment to maintaining its sovereignty and addressing the complex challenges posed by drug cartels and foreign policy dynamics.
