• Trump's administration plans military options against drug cartels designated as terrorists.
• Mexican President Sheinbaum insists there will be "no invasion" by U.S. forces.
• The directive could allow military operations at sea, raising sovereignty concerns.
• Sheinbaum emphasizes collaboration without military presence on Mexican soil.
• Recent U.S. sanctions and tariffs on Mexican goods are exacerbating tensions.

President Donald Trump's administration is reportedly preparing military options against Latin American drug cartels that have been designated as global terrorist organizations. This move follows Trump's earlier directive to the Pentagon to address these groups, which he believes pose a national security threat due to their involvement in drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, according to Reuters.

In response to these developments, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly stated, “There will be no invasion of Mexico," asserting that the U.S. military will not be entering her country. She reiterated that her government had been informed of upcoming U.S. orders that do not entail any military involvement on Mexican territory, according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio supported the military’s expanded role, indicating that the administration has the authority to utilize various elements of American power, including intelligence and military resources, to combat these organizations. He emphasized the necessity of viewing cartels as armed terrorist groups rather than merely criminal enterprises, as reported by Al Jazeera and Channel News Asia.

Sheinbaum’s declaration highlights Mexico's insistence on sovereignty amid concerns that U.S. military action could escalate tensions between the two nations. U.S. military involvement in cartel operations raises significant legal questions surrounding international law and sovereignty, leading experts to caution against unilateral action, as discussed in Newsweek and BBC.

This situation unfolds against a backdrop of strained relations, with Trump imposing tariffs on Mexican imports to pressure the country into more stringent anti-trafficking measures. Sheinbaum has expressed concerns that these actions complicate diplomatic efforts and could be seen as infringements on Mexico’s sovereign rights, further elaborating in her statements about the cooperative but independent approach Mexico maintains in addressing drug trafficking, according to Los Angeles Times and Newsweek.