The U.S. and Mexico’s Cooperation is the Foundation for Long Term Relations

By Larry Rubin

President Trump and President Claudia Sheinbaum are forging a new pathway for U.S.-Mexico relations - one rooted in pragmatism, respect, and commitment to serving both their peoples. While they come from radically different political backgrounds, the strong personal relationship they’ve built has delivered results that benefit the entire region.

For years, securing the U.S.-Mexico border and halting the flow of migrants and drugs appeared to be an intractable problem. Then Trump and Sheinbaum came to office - backed with significant support from their constituencies.

President Trump and Sheinbaum deftly negotiated and agreed to a comprehensive effort to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. As part of Operation Northern Border, Mexico has deployed 10,000 troops to halt drug and human traffickers. Mexico has also cracked down crime and illegal activity across the country, arresting more than 1,600 suspects, seizing nearly 1,500 firearms, and 48,000 lbs of drugs, including 286 lbs of fentanyl - enough to kill millions of people. The two countries are closely cooperating on this initiative, with U.S. special forces in Mexico trainingMexico’s marines and Mexico extraditing 29 cartel leaders to America to face justice.

This cooperation has led to real results: border crossing dropped to the lowest levels in decades and fentanyl deaths in the U.S. are declining significantly. While economic leverage was the impetus, President Trump has rightly delayed, hopefully permanently, tariffs on Mexico due to their proactive efforts. Moving forward, cooperation, not tariff threats, is the key to results.

That cooperation is now spreading across the region and Mexico has emerged as a key security partner. Guatemala, under President Bernardo Arévalo, has increased enforcement on its borders with Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico. Along the Suchiate River—the western edge of the Mexico-Guatemala border—joint patrols by Mexican and Guatemalan soldiers to stem human trafficking, drug smuggling, and arms trafficking are underway. One of Guatemala’s top drug traffickers was arrested in Mexico and returned to Guatemala, where he will face extradition to the U.S. These joint efforts make Mexico and Guatemala safer, and help keep drugs out of the U.S. - a win for all three countries.

Beyond the border issue, Mexico and the U.S. are aligning on perhaps the most significant threat to the West - the People’s Republic of China.

Since taking office, President Sheinbaum has laid out a plan to reduce Mexican dependence on Chinese imports that will help ensure Mexico does not become a “back door” for China to export cheap products to the U.S.

Going further,  Mexico has imposed tariffs of its own on Chinese textiles to protect the North American economy from subsidized Chinese exports that put U.S. and Mexico textile producers at a severe disadvantage. The Sheinbaum administration has also indicated it may join the U.S. in imposing tariffs on other Chinese products, including automobiles, which is gearing up to be a key industry of U.S.-China economic competition. This North American alignment is critical to securing both nations from the economic threat posed by Beijing.

The dividends to date—safer borders, more secure bilateral ties, and greater cooperation against shared threats—speak for themselves. As the world faces rising geopolitical and economic challenges, a strong U.S.–Mexico partnership will be critical to securing the Western Hemisphere.

The President Trump-President Sheinbaum partnership is only just beginning. With more cooperation, it can redefine regional security, protect American and Mexican jobs, and keep our competitors in check. In an uncertain time, this is the kind of leadership—and partnership—the hour demands.