Trump Praises Sheinbaum Anti-Drug Efforts But Demands More Action

U.S. President Donald Trump released his annual presidential determination on major drug transit and producing countries for fiscal year 2027 on September 16. The document recognizes Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration for seizing larger drug volumes, dismantling clandestine laboratories, and deploying additional security and military forces to the shared border.

Trump also credited increased bilateral security cooperation for helping eliminate notorious cartel leaders, including Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Despite these gains, the report states Mexico must adopt additional measures against narcoterrorist organizations controlling vast territory.

“Mexico needs to expose, arrest, and prosecute the numerous corrupt public officials who have aided and covered up for the cartels, betraying the security and sovereignty of their own country.”

The determination calls for Mexico to strengthen supply-chain integrity by increasing private-sector participation and significantly raising inspections at ports of entry. Trump argued current Mexican security investments are insufficient to sustain and expand campaigns against narcoterrorists, their finances, and criminal networks.

The report further urges Mexico to expose, arrest, and prosecute numerous corrupt public officials who have aided and covered up for cartels, betraying national security and sovereignty. China was also named as the world's largest producer of chemical precursors for illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine production.

The designation covers 23 countries, mostly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Canada was similarly criticized for failing to stop lethal drug flows, particularly fentanyl produced in clandestine Canadian labs.