Mexico and Canada Launch Strategic Partnership Focused on Security, Trade and Combating Organized Crime

In the first bilateral visit by a Canadian prime minister to Mexico in eight years, Mark Carney met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and the two North American leaders held talks on security, trade, climate change, and other key issues.

During the meeting, Mexico and Canada agreed to a new three-year collaboration plan. According to a statement from the Mexican government, the plan is based on "four pillars that reflect shared priorities: economic prosperity; mobility, well-being, and inclusion; security; and environmental sustainability."

The Mexico–Canada Action Plan 2025–2028 will guide joint efforts over the next three years, focusing on cooperation on trade, investment, port infrastructure, and shared work in areas such as agriculture, energy, natural resources, health, security, emergency response, and climate policy. According to the statement, the new strategic partnership is designed to help both countries respond more effectively to global challenges and take advantage of emerging opportunities.

Security was one of the key issues in this new bilateral agreement, as noted by Proceso. President Sheinbaum confirmed that the two countries have established a cooperation framework to jointly combat drug trafficking, particularly the flow of fentanyl across North America.

As part of the security agreement, Mexico and Canada will establish a bilateral dialogue aimed at strengthening "strategic collaboration and operational cooperation" on drug trafficking and money laundering. The agreement also includes cooperation on cybersecurity threats and responses to natural disasters.

During their joint press conference, Prime Minister Carney stated that Mexican cartels are operating in Canada, just as Canadian criminal organizations have a presence in Mexico. He said criminal groups operate bilaterally, which is why both countries must enhance information sharing, monitoring, and surveillance efforts.

"I must say that there are cartels from one country in the other, but also the other way around. We cooperate with Mexican authorities, we share information, and we are deepening that cooperation," Carney said, as reported by Infobae México.

The Canadian prime minister also emphasized the importance of collaboration on cybersecurity, foreign interference, and defense.

"What we agreed on today is the strengthening of our cooperation on security in response to that specific issue. These activities will take place in both countries, which makes this partnership all the more important," Carney added.

Sheinbaum, for her part, expressed Mexico's interest in learning from Canada's border security strategy and adopting best practices.

"Canada has recently reinforced its border through various mechanisms. We're interested in understanding how they achieved it. Of course, within the framework of our respective sovereignties, cooperation and collaboration are essential parts of the action plan we've agreed on," she said.