Trump’s Next Target: Mexican Cartels?

Following attacks by former President Donald Trump on boats in Venezuela, a pressing question has emerged: could Mexican cartels be next? While Mexico has dismissed any immediate threat, officials warn of the unpredictability of the U.S. leader.

President Donald Trump has ordered attacks against vessels off the coast of Venezuela as part of his offensive against drug trafficking networks in the Caribbean. The decision has provoked unease across Latin America and raised an inevitable question: could Mexico become the next stage for U.S. military intervention?

"It would be an honor for me to go and do it," Trump declared in May, referring to the possibility of using U.S. forces to pursue Mexican cartels, which he labeled as "evil" and responsible for trying "to destroy the United States."

However, according to senior Mexican government officials, there is no imminent threat of intervention at this time.

Mexico Dismisses Immediate Danger

According to Infobae, three Mexican officials consulted under condition of anonymity assured that the country maintains solid cooperation with Washington on migration and security, making it unlikely that the United States would risk that relationship with a unilateral military attack.

"The actions of the United States in the Caribbean are being monitored with caution, but there are no signs that Mexico is in the crosshairs," explained one of the officials.

Furthermore, two officials within Trump's own government reinforced this view, indicating that bilateral security cooperation is the closest it has been in decades, a result of agreements reached between Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Trump's Maritime Offensive

To date, the U.S. government has acknowledged attacks only against boats departing from Venezuela, a country Washington has considered a hostile regime for years.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio justified the actions by stating, "Stopping boats and seizing cargo does not stop smugglers. What will stop them is blowing them to bits."

Rubio visited Mexico on September 3, where he met with Sheinbaum and praised the security cooperation. "It is the closest collaboration we have had," he affirmed. Both governments issued a joint statement based on "respect for sovereignty" and "mutual trust."

Mexico Reinforces Its Strategy Against Drug Trafficking

During the first year of Sheinbaum's administration, the government has reported 35,000 arrests for serious crimes and the destruction of 1,600 drug labs, figures that significantly exceed those of the previous administration. Authorities also claim to have seized 3.8 million fentanyl pills and reduced homicides to their lowest level in a decade.

Despite the apparent calm, security and international relations experts warn that Mexico must not be overconfident.

"Sheinbaum complies, acts, and cooperates, but it is never enough for the United States," warned David Mora, an analyst at the International Crisis Group. "The problem is the volatility and unpredictability of the Trump administration."