• Mexico's President Sheinbaum denies any agreement with the DEA regarding Project Portero.
• The initiative from the DEA aims to target drug trafficking across the border.
• Sheinbaum emphasizes ongoing training exercises but no formal collaboration has been established.
• The U.S. and Mexico have seen recent positive interactions, despite Sheinbaum's push for sovereignty in any agreements.
• Sheinbaum's administration continues to work on a broader security deal with the U.S.

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly rejected the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) claims regarding a new initiative called "Project Portero," which the DEA announced as a collaboration to tackle drug and human trafficking at the border. During her morning news briefing on Tuesday, Sheinbaum stated, "The DEA put out a statement yesterday saying that there is an agreement with the Mexican government for an operation called Portero. There is no agreement with the DEA," underscoring that such assertions by the DEA are unfounded and not based on any formal agreements with the Mexican government. Only a workshop in Texas involving a few members of Mexico's police force is currently taking place, she clarified, according to Newsweek, Los Angeles Times, and The Hill.

Sheinbaum's comments follow the DEA's description of Project Portero as a "flagship operation" aimed at combatting the networks responsible for drug and firearm smuggling between the U.S. and Mexico. In her remarks, she expressed disappointment at the DEA's statement and reiterated that no collaboration had been established between her administration and the DEA, stating, "There is no agreement; none of the security institutions [have] with the DEA," as reported by Al Jazeera and Los Angeles Times.

The initiative's announcement came shortly after a period of improved diplomatic relations, during which Mexico transferred several cartel figures to the U.S. for prosecution. Sheinbaum's administration has been perceived as taking a more vigorous approach to addressing drug cartel activities compared to her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The recent exchanges seemed to signal a thawing of tensions, although Sheinbaum remains firm about maintaining Mexico's sovereignty. "We can collaborate. We can work together," she emphasized, but added that any U.S. military presence on Mexican soil would not be acceptable, according to The Hill and Los Angeles Times.

While acknowledging ongoing discussions with U.S. officials about a broader security agreement, Sheinbaum reiterated her administration’s core principles of sovereignty and mutual respect in handling such matters. The DEA's initiative is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to combat cross-border drug trafficking aggressively. Recent developments indicate challenges ahead for Mexico as it navigates U.S. pressures while also asserting its autonomy, as noted by Al Jazeera, Newsweek, and The Hill.