Mexico Denies Agreement on US-DEA Border Anti-Cartel Initiative

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced a new initiative called Project Portero, claiming a bold bilateral effort with Mexico to combat drug cartel operatives controlling smuggling corridors along the U.S.-Mexico border. However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly denied any formal agreement or joint initiative with the DEA, stating that no Mexican security institutions have reached such an accord. Sheinbaum acknowledged that a small group of Mexican police officers participated in a training workshop in Texas but emphasized that any official joint statement must be issued jointly and that Mexico was not consulted on the DEA's announcement. The president reaffirmed Mexico's commitment to tackling drug trafficking while protecting national sovereignty and noted ongoing cooperation, such as the recent extradition of cartel fugitives to the U.S. This denial comes amid a backdrop of efforts to repair U.S.-Mexico security relations after years of tension and recent threats by the Trump administration to increase trade tariffs if Mexico does not do more against smuggling. The DEA and U.S. embassy in Mexico have not responded to requests for comment regarding the discrepancy.