U.S. Rubio, Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Address Drug Cartels Threat

(MENAFN) Top diplomatic officials from Washington and Mexico City engaged in critical discussions Sunday focused on dismantling drug trafficking operations, the U.S. State Department confirmed in an official release.

Marco Rubio, America's chief diplomat, and his Mexican counterpart Juan Ramon de la Fuente held telephone discussions centered on combating narcotics smuggling and organized crime networks.

The bilateral conversation addressed "the need for stronger cooperation to dismantle Mexico's violent narcoterrorists networks and stop the trafficking of fentanyl and weapons," the U.S. State Department disclosed.

Rubio reaffirmed the U.S.' "commitment to stopping narcoterrorism and stressed the need for tangible results to protect our homeland and hemisphere," according to the department's statement.

The diplomatic exchange follows escalating rhetoric from Washington. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declared Friday that enhanced coordination with American officials was necessary after President Donald Trump threatened imminent military operations targeting cartel infrastructure south of the Rio Grande.

"We are going to strengthen communication, which is why I asked Juan Ramon de la Fuente to meet with the (US) secretary of state," Sheinbaum stated. "There is a working group, so we will further strengthen the relationship."

Mexico's Foreign Ministry elaborated on the discussion via X, the American social media platform, explaining that de la Fuente conducted the conversation with Rubio to "follow up on the Border Security and Law Enforcement Cooperation Program."

The ministry emphasized Sheinbaum's directive for the call, which proceeded "under the principles of unrestricted respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, shared responsibility, mutual trust, and collaboration without subordination."

Tensions mounted after Washington executed a Jan. 3 military intervention in Venezuela that resulted in President Nicolas Maduro's detention. Trump subsequently identified Mexico as the next target for anti-cartel military action.

Asserting that criminal syndicates wielded effective control over Mexican territory while Sheinbaum remained powerless against them, Trump pledged American forces would "start, now, hitting land."

"The cartels are running Mexico -- it's very, very sad to watch, and see what's happened to that country," he declared during Thursday's interview.

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