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Mexican officials and business leaders are growing increasingly uneasy over renewed rhetoric from President Trump suggesting the United States could take action against drug cartels operating in Mexico, even as President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly downplays fears of a U.S. “invasion.” Trump’s comments over the weekend that Washington may have to “do something” about cartels that are “running Mexico,” coming shortly after the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, have revived concerns in Mexico City about possible unilateral U.S. action. Former Mexican ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhán warned that while such action may be unlikely, it remains possible, saying, “Mexico should indeed be concerned, and Mexico is going to have to thread the needle very carefully.”
Despite strong bilateral cooperation on border security and counternarcotics efforts, business leaders say anxiety is rising over what they view as an increasingly militarized U.S. approach to drug trafficking. Pedro Casas Alatriste, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico, said the Venezuela episode has heightened fears of unilateral action, while a senior business official said Mexico could face a similar fate. Sheinbaum’s government has publicly condemned unilateral military force and emphasized international law, while privately intensifying cooperation with Washington. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said President Trump has “many options” to protect Americans from drug trafficking, underscoring that the administration is treating narcotics, migration and border security as core national-security threats amid broader geopolitical and economic stakes, including trade negotiations and preparations for the 2026 World Cup.