STORY: Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday (January 9) that she had tasked her foreign minister to take steps to improve communication with the U.S. government, one day after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened land strikes in Mexico.

"Yesterday, I asked Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente to make direct contact with the (U.S.) Secretary of State and, if necessary, speak with President Trump to strengthen coordination," Sheinbaum said during her morning press conference.

Trump said in an interview on Fox News on Thursday (January 8) that the U.S. was "going to start now hitting land," claiming that drug cartels are running Mexico.

Since taking office for his second term in January 2025, Trump has threatened military action in Mexico in an attempt to stem the flow of drugs into his country. The warnings have gained momentum after the US military attacked Venezuela over the weekend and captured its president, Nicolas Maduro, to bring him to justice on charges of narco-terrorism.

Sheinbaum, who has criticized the operation to depose Maduro, defended her government's cooperation with Washington in the fight against drug cartels to prevent narcotics, such as deadly fentanyl, from continuing to reach the neighboring country.

She highlighted that during her administration, intentional homicides have been reduced by 40%, hundreds of tons of drugs have been seized, and dozens of criminals have been extradited.

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Sheinbaum seeks better communication with Trump after comments on Mexico

VIDEO SHOWS: MEXICAN PRESIDENT, CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, DURING PRESS CONFERENCE / SOUNDBITES FROM SHEINBAUM

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE STORY

SHOWS: ACAPULCO, GUERRERO, MEXICO (JANUARY 9, 2026) (MEXICAN GOVERNMENT TV - Access all)

1. MEXICAN PRESIDENT, CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, ARRIVING AT PRESS CONFERENCE

2. PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS

3. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICO'S PRESIDENT, CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAYS VARIOUS OF SHEINBAUM SPEAKING):

"I explained to President Lula (Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva) that we have an agreement with President Trump, an understanding on the issue of security with Mexico, which, incidentally, we are strengthening. About the statements President Trump has made in recent days, which are part of his way of communicating, but in any case, I asked Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente yesterday to make direct contact with the Secretary of State, with the Secretary of the State Department, and if necessary to speak with President Trump to strengthen coordination within the framework that we have already explained on several occasions."

5. JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MEXICO'S PRESIDENT, CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM, SAYING: (SOUNDBITE PARTIALLY OVERLAYS VARIOUS OF SHEINBAUM SPEAKING):

"Well, we are going to strengthen communication. That is why I asked Secretary Juan Ramon de la Fuente to meet with the Secretary of State, if necessary. Two or three days ago, Secretary Rubio himself spoke about the good coordination with Mexico on security matters, which has been repeatedly highlighted. We have a joint working group. So, we will strengthen our relationship and information sharing. We are providing this information on the number of laboratories seized. In short, they will have all the information and, within the framework of what we have been working on, we will strengthen coordination."

7. PRESS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS