On Monday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum voiced her strong opposition to what she termed U.S. meddling in Venezuela, and firmly rejected the prospect of American troops entering Mexican soil, underscoring her administration’s dedication to upholding national sovereignty.
During a press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum declared, “We unequivocally oppose interference in the domestic affairs of other nations,” as per an official transcript of her remarks disseminated by her office.
Sheinbaum further elaborated, “The history of Latin America speaks for itself; intervention has never delivered democracy, nor has it fostered well-being or lasting stability. It is the people who must shape their own destiny, determine their future, exercise control over their natural resources, and freely establish their form of governance.”
This statement came in the wake of a U.S. military operation conducted in Caracas on Saturday, which involved the extraction of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their residence.
Captured in a photograph, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum can be seen addressing inquiries during her morning press briefing at Palacio Nacional in Mexico City on January 5, 2026. (Photo by Raquel Cunha/Reuters)
Following their extraction, Maduro and Flores were transported aboard the USS Iwo Jima and flown to New York, where they are set to face federal charges. Their arraignment took place on Monday in Manhattan.
Maduro is charged with four counts: narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine-guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine-guns and destructive devices.
His wife is charged with three counts: cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine-guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine-guns and destructive devices.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are seen in handcuffs after landing at a Manhattan helipad, escorted by heavily armed Federal agents as they make their way into an armored car en route to a Federal courthouse in Manhattan on Jan. 5, 2026. (TheImageDirect.com)
Sheinbaum said that following the capture of Venezuela’s leader and his wife, and amid warnings from President Donald Trump that Mexico must “get their act together,” Mexican sovereignty and self-determination remain non-negotiable.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he thinks Sheinbaum is a “terrific person,” but the cartels are “running Mexico.”
“We’re going to have to do something. We’d love Mexico to do it, they’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately the cartels are very strong in Mexico,” Trump said.
Sheinbaum said her country is cooperating with the United States to help fight against drug trafficking, organized crime and the flow of fentanyl.
President Donald Trump speaks at his Mar-a-Lago club, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Palm Beach, Fla, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
“I don’t believe in an invasion. I don’t even think it’s something they’re taking very seriously,” Sheinbaum told reporters in Spanish when asked about a potential U.S. intervention, according to Reuters’ translation of her remarks.
She said Trump has repeatedly insisted during their phone conversations that the U.S. Army be allowed to enter Mexico.
“We have said no very firmly — first because we defend our sovereignty, and second because it is not necessary,” Sheinbaum told reporters.
