The situation in Mexico remains fluid and complex, although there are signs of gradual stabilization. By early Monday, the Mexican military and police forces had dismantled most of the cartel’s roadblocks. The future course of events remains uncertain, but some developments have emerged.
Notably, the United States provided intelligence assistance to the Mexican authorities in a raid that led to the death of “El Mencho,” the notorious leader of the Jalisco cartel.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed this U.S. support in a post on X, underscoring the collaboration between the two nations.
The post elaborated on the nature of the assistance provided, highlighting the strategic partnership.
Additionally, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald D. Johnson, commended the collaborative efforts between Mexico and the United States, expressing optimism about their joint initiatives.
For now, the situation appears to be under control, though the coming days will be crucial in determining the long-term impact of these actions.
The United States provided intelligence support to the Mexican government in order to assist with an operation in Talpalpa, Jalisco, Mexico, in which Nemesio ‘El Mencho’ Oseguera Cervantes, an infamous drug lord and leader within the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was eliminated.… https://t.co/iKxsAMmnLN
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 23, 2026
The post continues:
…was eliminated. ‘El Mencho’ was a was a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland. Last year, President Trump rightfully designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization — because that’s exactly what it is. In this operation, three additional cartel members were killed, three were wounded, and two were arrested.
President Trump has been very clear — the United States will ensure narcoterrorists sending deadly drugs to our homeland are forced to face the wrath of justice they have long deserved.
The Trump Administration also commends and thanks the Mexican military for their cooperation and successful execution of this operation.
And finally, the U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald D. Johnson, praised the cooperation between the two nations:
U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson recognized the success of the Mexican armed forces and their sacrifice in a statement late Sunday. He added that “under the leadership of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”
So far, so good – at least for now.
