MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday called for stronger cooperation with Washington after U.S. President Donald Trump said he would soon launch attacks on drug cartels across the southern border, raising tensions between the two neighbors.

At a news conference in the coastal state of Guerrero, Sheinbaum reaffirmed her willingness to work more closely with the United States to tackle drug trafficking, as Trump asserted that a military-led operation involving strikes on Mexican territory was coming.

“We are going to strengthen communication, which is why I asked (Foreign Minister) Juan Ramón de la Fuente to meet with the (U.S.) secretary of state … three days ago Secretary (of State Marco) Rubio himself spoke about the good coordination, there is a working group, so we will further strengthen the relationship, the information we are providing … in short, that they have all the information,” Sheinbaum said.

The comments come after a Jan. 3 U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, and Trump’s subsequent remark that Mexico could be next in line for strikes against drug cartels. He claimed Mexico was being run by cartels and said Washington would “start, now, hitting land.”

Sheinbaum has long opposed foreign troops or foreign-led strikes on Mexican soil, emphasizing Mexico’s sovereignty. During Friday’s news conference, she said Mexico and the United States maintain existing agreements on fighting drug trafficking, highlighting ongoing collaboration between the Mexican National Guard and Navy with the U.S. military’s Northern Command, which has led to significant operations such as a recent 1.6-ton cocaine bust along the Pacific coast.

Pressed by reporters on what her government would do if Trump refused dialogue and proceeded with military actions on Mexican territory, Sheinbaum ruled out any scenario outside cooperation. “We do not want to think about any other scenario; rather, we want to continue working within that scenario so that coordination is further strengthened within the framework of the defense of our sovereignties on both sides and of Mexico’s territorial integrity,” she said. — Agencies