The visit of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Mexico this week has reinforced bilateral cooperation against organised crime but also exposed the underlying tensions between the two governments, particularly over sovereignty, corruption and trade.

At the centre of the talks was the creation of a high-level implementation group to coordinate joint action against drug trafficking, arms smuggling, fuel theft and clandestine border tunnels. The group will meet regularly to evaluate progress, according to Mexico’s Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente, who told reporters that such models of cooperation “can give results” if they respect sovereignty.

Rubio noted that the recent extradition of 55 cartel leaders to the United States illustrates an “unprecedented level of cooperation” between both countries. However, he warned that “much remains to be done” and refused to share operational details on the grounds that “narcotraffickers also read the press.”

The announcement followed a closed-door meeting between Rubio and President Claudia Sheinbaum at the National Palace in Mexico City. Both governments described the session as “productive and cordial,” with Sheinbaum stressing that cooperation must take place on “equal terms” and without “violations of our territory.” 

The political backdrop, though, complicates this narrative. Only hours before Rubio’s arrival, US President Donald Trump announced a naval strike in Caribbean waters against a Venezuelan speedboat allegedly linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, killing 11 people. Trump justified the attack as part of his promise to dismantle drug cartels “no matter where they are operating.” Rubio, defending the move, insisted the president had the authority “to eliminate imminent threats to the United States.” Mexico, meanwhile, reiterated its long-standing preference for non-intervention and peaceful conflict resolution.

The sovereignty issue has become particularly sensitive. Trump has suggested that "elegant and beautiful" Sheinbaum is “afraid” of confronting cartels, even claiming that her country is “run by cartels.” Sheinbaum has rejected those assertions, pointing instead to achievements such as a 90% drop in migrant arrests at the border, record fentanyl seizures and a 32% decline in high-impact crimes in Mexico, figures highlighted by El País.

“This assertion [Trump] makes is not true, but we will maintain a good relationship,” Sheinbaum said.

And in a move seemingly calibrated to appease the Trump administration, Mexico announced earlier this week fresh tariffs on Chinese imports as part of its 2026 budget proposals, just ahead of the review of the pivotal United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Agreement.

Striking a conciliatory tone during a press conference, Rubio said that "Never in the history of both countries have we seen the level of cooperation that we have right now – cooperation at a level that respects integrity and the sovereignty of both countries."

Yet despite these results, US officials have continued to press for stronger measures against corruption. The conviction of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada in New York, where the cartel leader admitted to bribing Mexican officials for decades, has sharpened Washington’s focus on institutional weaknesses. Analysts argue that Sheinbaum now faces a dilemma: to respond to US demands without destabilising her leftist party Morena, whose alliances may include figures with cartel links.

Sheinbaum has denied shielding politicians, citing investigations that have led to charges against 60 local officials. Nevertheless, The New York Times noted that no federal-level politician has yet been prosecuted under her administration, a fact critics view as evidence of caution in dealing with the ruling party's internal networks.

Trade also remains contentious. Rubio sidestepped questions about whether Washington will remove the 25% tariffs imposed earlier this year on Mexican exports, saying he would report security cooperation progress to Trump’s economic cabinet but that tariff policy was outside his remit. According to Bloomberg Línea, parallel trade talks are being led by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, while Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard was in Washington to push for relief. Trump had initially imposed the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, linking them to Mexico’s responsibility for fentanyl trafficking.

For now, the bilateral agenda is centred on security. Rubio, who travels next to Ecuador, hailed Mexico’s partnership as unique.

But the relationship remains fragile. Mexican analyst Carlos Bravo Regidor told The New York Times that Sheinbaum is “trapped between the sword of US pressure and the wall of narcopolitics.” Whether the newly established group can deliver measurable results without fuelling disputes over foreign intervention or tariffs will shape the trajectory of US–Mexico relations in the coming months.