US gun flows and Sheinbaum's call to action
In Mexico City, President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the cross border issue head on after Donald Trump touted a counter cartel coalition at a Latin American leaders gathering. She argued that the United States should do more to stop illegal weapons from entering Mexico, saying this is a key way to curb cartel violence.
There is something the US can help with a lot, she stated. If the entry of illegal weapons into Mexico were stopped, cartels would have far less access to high powered hardware for their criminal campaigns.
The president highlighted a stark figure tied to the violence: about 75 percent of guns used by Mexican cartels originate in the United States. She reiterated long standing calls for the US to curb arms trafficking and reminded audiences that Mexico had previously sued several American gunmakers alleging negligent marketing and sales that helped fuel cartel violence. That suit was dismissed by the US Supreme Court last year.
Trump's remarks at the Shield of Americas summit framed the issue as a regional battle against cartels, a stance Sheinbaum responded to with a measured push for policy change rather than intervention. The exchange underscored a tense moment in US-Mexico relations as both sides grapple with how to stem the violence tied to illicit firearms.
Analysts weighed in on the broader dynamics. A Mexican political analyst described Trump’s comments as sexist and argued that the epicenter of cartel violence lies outside of Mexico, fueled by demand for drugs and access to weapons that cross the border.
The dialogue reflects an ongoing cross border confrontation over gun trafficking, sovereignty, and the best path to reducing cartel violence while navigating a volatile political landscape in both countries.
