Washington — US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Wednesday that the Mexican government under President Claudia Sheinbaum has been more cooperative on security matters than the previous administration, praising the bilateral relationship two weeks after his visit to Mexico City.
“We have been impressed that they have been very cooperative, much more cooperative than the previous administration,” Mullin said during a public appearance on June 3.
Mullin traveled to Mexico on May 21, where he met with Sheinbaum and cabinet members at the National Palace. During the meeting, he emphasized the need to strengthen joint actions against criminal organizations linked to drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.
The secretary acknowledged that Mexico maintains a firm stance on its sovereignty, an aspect he said both nations must respect.
Sheinbaum later explained that the dialogue took place under a framework of collaboration and coordination, making clear that Mexico is not subordinate to the United States. She reiterated that bilateral cooperation must occur within the limits established by the Mexican Constitution and national laws, and that joint operations by foreign forces on Mexican soil are not permitted under current law.
The president proposed more frequent meetings between security teams from both countries, and both sides agreed to hold a new meeting of the Security Understanding in June.
Mullin’s comments come days after Sheinbaum denounced that sectors of the US far right are seeking to undermine Mexican sovereignty. She also questioned investigations by the US Department of Justice against officials and former officials from Sinaloa, including Governor Rubén Rocha Moya and Senator Enrique Inzunza Cázarez, expressing concern about the potential reach of such probes into Mexico’s internal political affairs.
Recent tensions also arose from the participation of CIA agents in an operation to dismantle a clandestine drug lab in Chihuahua, which prompted questions from the Mexican government and members of the ruling Morena party about the scope of US agent involvement on national territory.
Despite these differences, both countries have reiterated their intention to maintain a cooperative security relationship based on mutual respect and institutional coordination.
