US-Mexico security cooperation has intensified through intelligence sharing, extraditions of cartel figures, and joint counter-narcotics efforts, including recent Mexican-led operations that used US-provided information to target leaders and labs. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly rejected proposals for direct US military involvement or strikes inside Mexico, citing sovereignty concerns and stating that operations must remain under Mexican control. Rhetoric from US officials has included discussions of designating cartels as terrorist organizations and potential unilateral actions, yet bilateral mechanisms such as border troop deployments on US soil and maritime interdictions have been prioritized instead. No qualifying US drone, missile, or air strikes on Mexican territory have occurred, and scheduled diplomatic and enforcement timelines through the end of 2026 continue to emphasize coordinated rather than independent measures.