Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has signed two constitutional amendments aimed at bolstering national sovereignty and imposing stricter penalties on foreigners involved in illegal activities within Mexico.
This legislative action comes just a day after Washington’s decision to designate six Mexican drug cartels as “terrorist organizations,” a move that could pave the way for expanded U.S. legal and military measures against them.
While addressing the amendments, Sheinbaum emphasized Mexico’s stance on sovereignty, declaring that while the U.S. may “name things however they want,” Mexico remains committed to a principle of “collaboration and coordination, never subordination. No intervention, and certainly no invasion.”
She further underscored that Mexico will not negotiate its sovereignty, warning that the situation should not be used as an opening for the U.S. to infringe upon the country’s territorial integrity.
One of the amendments, which modifies Article 40 of the Constitution, explicitly states that “under no circumstances shall the people of Mexico accept interventions, intrusions, or any foreign act that harms the integrity, independence, or sovereignty of the nation.” It highlights prohibited actions such as coups, election interference, and territorial violations in any form—by land, sea, air, or space. Additionally, it mandates that no foreign authority may conduct investigations or prosecutions within Mexico without the explicit authorization of the Mexican government.
A second amendment to Article 19 introduces the harshest penalties for foreigners implicated in arms trafficking or any activity that infringes upon Mexico’s sovereignty as outlined in Article 40. The new measure also ensures mandatory pretrial detention for such offenders.
In her remarks, Sheinbaum also reiterated Mexico’s commitment to holding U.S. gun manufacturers and distributors accountable for their role in the illegal flow of firearms into the country.
This follows the expansion of a lawsuit by Mexico’s foreign ministry against U.S. entities involved in the arms trade, a situation acknowledged by the U.S. Department of Justice in January.
With these amendments, Sheinbaum has underscored Mexico’s firm position on protecting its sovereignty and ensuring that foreign entities cannot undermine its integrity, even as tensions rise with the U.S. over issues related to drug cartels and arms trafficking.
