Donald Trump used the closing press conference of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Wednesday to deliver a stark assessment of Mexico’s internal security, asserting that drug cartels now effectively govern the country. 'Mexico has lost control of its country. The cartels govern Mexico, and it is sad,' Trump said, adding that President Claudia Sheinbaum is 'a very good woman, but she is very scared.' The remarks, which echoed a narrative the US president has advanced repeatedly since taking office, came as the Group of Seven leaders issued a joint communiqué pledging to intensify the fight against drug trafficking, strengthen maritime and port security, and combat the infiltration of public and private institutions by transnational criminal networks.

Viewed from Washington, the rhetorical escalation is coupled with operational claims. Trump stated that US strikes on suspected narcotics vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September 2025 had reduced maritime drug flows by 97 percent, while land-based trafficking had fallen by more than 60 percent. The administration now intends to shift its focus to overland routes crossing the US-Mexico border. The implicit message—that Mexico is unable or unwilling to confront the cartels—has been used to justify mounting pressure on the Sheinbaum government, with Trump officials warning that Washington may be forced to intervene directly if Mexico does not 'step forward.'

In Mexico City, the response was swift and dismissive. Ricardo Monreal, the Morena party’s coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies, told reporters that Trump’s opinion was 'very far from reality' and defended Sheinbaum’s firmness, character, and sovereign stance. The Mexican president has previously attributed bilateral tensions to 'dark interests' promoted by domestic right-wing groups and organisations such as The American Society, led by Larry Rubin. Trump’s characterisation of Sheinbaum as frightened—a phrase that struck many as patronising—adds a personal dimension to a relationship already strained by trade disputes and security disagreements.

From the summit itself, the G7’s joint statement framed drug trafficking as a growing threat to national security, fuelling corruption and violence, and linked it to human trafficking, fraud, money laundering, and terrorist financing. The pledge to strengthen maritime and port security aligns with Trump’s operational focus, yet the multilateral language sits uneasily with his unilateral rhetoric. Analysts in London note that the juxtaposition highlights a persistent tension in US foreign policy: the impulse to act alone versus the need to coordinate with allies and neighbours. The T-MEC trade pact, which underpins North American economic integration, could become collateral damage if the war of words escalates into concrete punitive measures.

Looking ahead, the shift in US enforcement emphasis towards land routes promises further friction. Mexico’s government faces the challenge of asserting its sovereignty while demonstrating tangible progress against organised crime—a task complicated by Trump’s public dismissal of its efforts. Whether the G7’s collective framework can temper Washington’s more confrontational instincts remains an open question, but for now, the rhetorical temperature between the two neighbours shows no sign of cooling.