Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum denies knowledge of US drug initiative
Al Jazeera1 day
Mexico Denies DEA Agreement on Project Portero
Above: Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during the daily morning briefing in Mexico City, Mexico, Aug. 12, 2025. Image copyright: Johana Remigio/ObturadorMX/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Project Portero marks a decisive step in U.S.–Mexico security cooperation. By targeting cartel "gatekeepers" who control smuggling corridors, it disrupts fentanyl pipelines, devastating U.S. communities. The program is crucial in uniting Mexican investigators with U.S. officials for training, intelligence sharing, and the development of coordinated strategies to enhance border security and uphold the rule of law.
Establishment-critical narrative
Mexico's sovereignty must be respected in any security cooperation, and the DEA overstepped by announcing an agreement that doesn't exist. The agency violated established protocols by issuing statements without proper coordination with the Mexican government. Only a small workshop with four Mexican police officers is actually taking place, not the major bilateral initiative the DEA described.