Under President Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico is witnessing a revitalization of security cooperation with the United States, a significant shift from the previous administration led by Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The renewed partnership focuses on strengthening intelligence sharing and combating organized crime, with Security Cabinet coordinator Omar García Harfuch playing a pivotal role. García Harfuch has engaged in numerous meetings with high-ranking US officials, aiming to bolster collaboration. Mexican authorities have noted that quicker exchanges of information have enhanced their ability to swiftly address criminal activities.
Since Sheinbaum took office, Mexico has reported substantial achievements in law enforcement, including tens of thousands of arrests and the seizure of major weapons and drug caches. Additionally, thousands of clandestine drug laboratories have been dismantled. The government has also expedited the extradition of high-profile criminal suspects to the United States, contributing to a notable decrease in fentanyl trafficking. This shift in cooperation represents a departure from the policies of the López Obrador administration, which had previously shuttered a US intelligence unit in Mexico and imposed stricter regulations on foreign security agents.
The bilateral relationship had further deteriorated during López Obrador’s term following the 2020 arrest of former Defense Minister Salvador Cienfuegos and disagreements over organized crime investigations. Tensions peaked in 2024 when reports emerged linking drug-trafficking funds to López Obrador’s 2006 presidential campaign. Although these allegations did not lead to formal charges, they significantly eroded trust between Mexican and US authorities.
Despite the progress in collaboration, President Sheinbaum continues to emphasize the importance of Mexico’s sovereignty and insists on mutual respect in dealings with the United States. Her administration remains critical of perceived attempts by US officials to sway or divide Mexico’s security leadership. Consequently, while both nations are eager to improve coordination in the fight against organized crime, Mexico maintains that any intelligence cooperation must align with its national sovereignty and interests.