Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo responded with a 'cold head' to media inquiries during a tour in the State of Mexico, stating she will address the issue during her morning conference this Monday at the National Palace. The National Council of Morena 'categorically' rejected the statements of US President Donald Trump, who designated Mexico as the 'epicenter' of drug cartels, and expressed its support for the security strategy of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. In a communiqué issued following the VII Ordinary Session of the party's National Council, the Morena leadership asserted that the federal administration 'has fought forcefully against the cartels' and defended that the national security strategy is yielding results by prioritizing attention to the root causes and the construction of peace. The national leader of Morena, Luisa María Alcalde, wrote on her social media: 'Also, in light of the most recent statements from the President of the United States, we take the opportunity to say it loud and clear: President Claudia Sheinbaum is not alone, she has the full backing of our Movement and the people of Mexico!'. Morena's position was released after US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday the creation of a regional coalition to combat drug cartels called the 'Shield of the Americas'. During a summit held at the president's golf course in Florida, the Republican signed a proclamation to create the alliance, whose objective, he said, is to use 'lethal military force to destroy' the cartels. Leaders from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, and Trinidad and Tobago participated in the meeting, while progressive governments like those of Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia were not invited. During his remarks, Trump described Mexico as the 'epicenter of cartel violence' and criticized the Mexican government for not allowing the United States to carry out military attacks against criminal organizations on its national territory. When asked about Mexico's exclusion, the Spanish-language spokesperson for the Department of State, Natalia Molano, assured the EFE agency that it is not a 'closed door,' but an initiative that could be expanded in the future. 'It is an opportunity to recognize countries that have put on the jersey and aligned themselves from day one of President Trump's Administration,' she told the agency. In response to these accusations, President Sheinbaum called for prudence and avoided immediate comment. 'We will see on Monday, on Monday.'
