Claudia Sheinbaum admits coordination with the cartels in Mexico: A morning press conference that unmasks the government’s complicity with organized crime.
During a morning press conference at the National Palace, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum stunned Mexicans by responding with laughter and evasive remarks to a direct question about the people’s fear of the cartels.
Even more serious, in her response she openly admitted that her government works in “coordination” and “collaboration” with these criminal groups—a statement that has sparked questions about the true nature of her administration.
A scandalous response during the morning briefing.
During the press conference, a reporter asked: “Are the people of Mexico afraid of the cartels?”
Sheinbaum’s response, accompanied by laughter that many have described as frivolous, was:
“Look, they have their own, as I’ve always said, they have their way of communicating. What we’ve always said, and will always maintain, is our principle, our conviction, and besides, that’s how it should be to protect the nation and the people of Mexico, is that there is coordination, there is collaboration, information is shared, but without subordination and with respect for our sovereignty.”
These words not only confirm a working relationship with the cartels but also reveal a stance that normalizes the presence of these groups in national life.
The mention of “coordination” and “collaboration” without a clear context on how these criminal organizations are being confronted has sparked suspicions that Sheinbaum’s government might be yielding to the power of the cartels.
The context: Mexico, a country under the yoke of the cartels.
Mexico is experiencing one of the worst security crises in its history. According to data from the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System, between 2018 and 2024, under the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Sheinbaum’s mentor, more than 188,996 intentional homicides were recorded.
In 2025, violence has not significantly decreased, with states like Sinaloa, Guerrero, Michoacán, and Chiapas mired in cartel wars.
In Sinaloa, for example, the conflict between factions of the Sinaloa Cartel has left more than 650 dead since September 2024.
López Obrador’s “hugs, not bullets” strategy, largely inherited by Sheinbaum, has been widely criticized for its lack of results.
Although Sheinbaum has promised to “strengthen” the National Guard and “improve” police intelligence, she cannot confront the corruption within her own party, Morena, which is the main obstacle to fighting the cartels.
“Coordination” with the cartels: A deliberate policy?
Sheinbaum’s admission of “coordination” with the cartels is not entirely surprising. Since her presidential campaign, allegations have surfaced about possible links between Morena and organized crime.
Although these accusations have not been judicially proven, they have fueled suspicions about her administration.
International pressure and sovereignty at stake.
Sheinbaum’s statement comes at a time of tension with the United States. In February 2025, Donald Trump’s administration designated several Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, opening the door to possible direct interventions on Mexican soil.
Sheinbaum responded with a nationalist speech, asserting that Mexico will not tolerate “invasions” and that any collaboration with the U.S. will be on terms of “coordination, never subordination.”
However, her insistence on “collaboration” with the cartels, as expressed in the morning briefing, casts doubt on her real commitment to fighting drug trafficking. The Trump administration has pressured Mexico to investigate Morena politicians allegedly linked to the cartels.
Although Sheinbaum denied these accusations, calling them “fake news,” the lack of transparency in her administration and her reluctance to confront corrupt figures within her party reinforce suspicions of complicity.
Claudia Sheinbaum’s words during the morning briefing are not a mere slip-up; they are confirmation of a truth that many Mexicans feared: Morena’s government has not only failed to combat drug trafficking, but it also seems to have opted for a shameful coexistence with the cartels.
By admitting to “coordination” and “collaboration” with these groups, Sheinbaum has betrayed the trust of the Mexican people, who yearn to live without fear in a country where criminals do not make the rules.
While Mexico sinks into violence and impunity, the president laughs at uncomfortable questions and defends a strategy that protects the cartels more than it does the citizens.
Is this the future we deserve? The answer is in our hands: to demand a government that confronts crime with courage and transparency, not with complicity and laughter.
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