A Honeymoon: What did Mexico and the US Agree on After Sheinbaum’s Meeting with Marco Rubio?

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Following a meeting between Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both countries reached an agreement to combat drug trafficking, illegal migration, fuel theft, and arms trafficking.

To this end, a high-level implementation group was established to follow up on mutual commitments. We share everything agreed upon after the meeting between officials from both countries, which seeks to dismantle organized crime.

What does the security understanding address?

This agreement revolves around four key principles established by Sheinbaum: reciprocity; respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity; shared and differentiated responsibility; and mutual trust.

During press conferences, Sheinbaum has stated that these four pillars are the basis for the joint actions contemplated in the agreement with the United States, such as reducing the entry of fentanyl precursors into Mexico, reducing the entry of weapons from the United States, and strengthening cooperation on intelligence and border security. It also includes measures to address addiction and prevent drug use.

According to the statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both governments will work together to dismantle transnational organized crime “through strengthened cooperation between our respective national security institutions, law enforcement agencies, and judicial authorities.”

High-Level Group

Similarly, Mexico agreed with the United States to address the irregular movement of people, committing to take actions to strengthen border security, focusing efforts on stopping drug and arms trafficking.

“The two governments have established a high-level implementation group that will meet regularly to monitor mutual commitments and actions taken within their own countries, including measures to counter cartels, strengthen border security, eliminate clandestine border tunnels, address illicit financial flows, improve collaboration to prevent fuel theft, and increase inspections, investigations, and prosecutions to stem the flow of drugs and weapons,” they wrote.

They asserted that the actions implemented have already led to a reduction in these problems, and will therefore strengthen collaboration on public safety, as well as the dissemination of campaigns to prevent the use of illicit substances.

“Both governments reaffirm their determination to cooperate, protect our citizens, and make our communities safer,” they concluded.

At a press conference with Marco Rubio and Juan Ramón De la Fuente, they announced that they would not provide many details about the security operations to combat organized crime, but they did mention that these joint operations have always existed, but with the agreements, they will be expanded.

“If we know that there is a group in Mexico or is about to enter Mexico with weapons, or whatever, but they are no longer in our jurisdiction, that intelligence is passed on to the Mexican authorities (…) We can also conduct joint training, something we can learn from their experience and also things they can learn from us,” Rubio explained.

The foreign minister emphasized that the reforms to the legislative framework implemented by Sheinbaum have also allowed for greater effectiveness of the actions implemented.

“It has been a productive meeting that will allow us in the near future to continue taking steps in the right direction we have agreed upon, and I want to reiterate our gratitude for the willingness to continue this cooperation within the new framework we have defined,” De la Fuente expressed.