Beware the Scorpion

ByMexico Solidarity

This column by Carlos Fernández-Vega originally appeared in the September 5, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Satisfied with the results of her recent meeting with hawkish US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted the level of “understanding” regarding bilateral security and emphasized that the topic of a possible military intervention by that country in ours “was not on the table, and it was very clear,” the negotiating table. It was a “good result,” the President emphasized, but we must never forget that the United States is the scorpion in the fable of the frog, and there is ample historical evidence of this (interventionist, coup-monger, annexationist, violator of international law, and much more). It is in its nature, in its DNA.

Believing in the “goodwill” of whoever occupies the White House could prove suicidal, even though the level of “understanding” reached “is based on reciprocity, respect for sovereignty, shared responsibility, and mutual trust, without subordination,” as President Sheinbaum pointed out, emphasizing that “there are four principles on which the program is based,” always with collaboration and coordination.

The joint communiqué resulting from the aforementioned meeting states that “the governments of Mexico and the United States reaffirm their security cooperation, which is based on the principles of reciprocity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, shared and differentiated responsibility, and mutual trust. The objective is to work together to dismantle transnational organized crime through strengthened cooperation between our respective national security institutions, law enforcement agencies, and judicial authorities. In addition, we are collaborating to address the illegal movement of people across the border. This cooperation, through specific and immediate actions, will strengthen security along our shared border, halt the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and end arms trafficking.”

Something else: “The two governments have established a high-level implementation group that will meet regularly to monitor mutual commitments and actions taken within their own countries, including measures to counter cartels, strengthen border security, eliminate clandestine border tunnels, address illicit financial flows, enhance collaboration to prevent fuel theft, and increase inspections, investigations, and prosecutions to stem the flow of drugs and weapons. Our close coordination has allowed us to secure the border, reduce fentanyl trafficking, and advance intelligence sharing, all within our respective legal frameworks.”

So, everything is fine in the text, in the statement, and in the meeting, but the Mexican government must never forget that it is negotiating with a scorpion, and while the frog has gained experience throughout history, we must always be on the lookout for these kinds of “well-intentioned friends” and “good neighbors.” If you have any questions, please consult the history of the bilateral relationship.

By the way, during yesterday’s morning press conference, President Sheinbaum didn’t miss the opportunity to “send her best regards” to the group of unsavory individuals who have been dedicated to promoting the US military intervention. The president said: “Alito yesterday in Washington, making a fool of himself, saying ‘the Mexican government is linked to drug traffickers,’ and here Secretary Rubio congratulating us on the work we do regarding organized crime and the good cooperation there is. Roberto Gil Zuarth (in an interview with an American television station) saying who knows what, pure lies. And all this stuff about narco-president, narco-presidenta, blah, blah… Look at what the opposition, the right, the conservatives would have wanted, for there to be no understanding. They were like this: ‘let it go badly for the President, please, let them come scold her, tell her that the list of politicians who are linked,’ right? That’s what commentators do, right?: ‘the United States government has the President cornered,’ and they say: ‘it didn’t go so well for the President.’ The opposition only wants things to go badly for the country. “Through lies and slander, but yesterday their little show fell apart. What a ridiculous thing they made of themselves!”

Slices of the Cake

When it comes to ridiculousness, there’s Trump, the biggest scorpion, whom no one believes, no matter how much he claims to “have proof” of the drug boat (which he calls a “ship”) supposedly destroyed by the Americans in the Caribbean, “originating from Venezuela.”

Carlos Fernández-Vega is author of the column México SA, and President of the Editorial Committee of La Jornada.