The first act in a high-tension setting
On direct instructions from President Claudia Sheinbaum, a meeting took place this Tuesday at the National Palace that many observers viewed with a magnifying glass. It was no wonder: the issue is one of the most complex in the bilateral relationship.
The high-level meeting with the US ambassador, Ronald Johnson, and the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), Sara Carter, served as the first letter of introduction of the new administration on this delicate board.
“We reaffirm the commitment to bilateral collaboration for the benefit of our nations,” an official published on social media after the meeting.
Although Sheinbaum was not physically present, his shadow—and his instructions—pervaded everything. The message was clear: continuity in the relationship has a new tone, but the foundations of cooperation remain.
A strong cast for a well-known script
The Mexican table left no room for doubt about the seriousness of the matter. There they were, representing the key institutions:
- General Ricardo Trevilla (Sedena)
- A high-ranking admiral (Semar)
- Ernestina Godoy (FGR)
- Rosa Icela Rodríguez (Segob)
- Omar García Harfuch (SSPC)
- Roberto Velasco (SRE)
A display that speaks for itself. Each one represents a fundamental piece in the national strategy against illegal substance trafficking. Their simultaneous presence sends a powerful signal to Washington: Mexico is addressing this as a state policy, not as an isolated issue.
The atmosphere, according to sources, was “of cordiality and exchange of strategies.” That word—strategies—is the one that matters. Because behind the diplomatic language and protocol photos, what is being defined is the how.
How exactly will the agencies cooperate? What information will they share? Where are the new limits that Sheinbaum has promised to defend in terms of sovereignty?
This meeting was just the first dialogue of many to come. The real drama—with its agreements, disagreements, and moments of tension—will unfold in the coming months. But today, both governments took the stage and confirmed that, at least for now, they are willing to continue acting in the same play.
