Journalist Specialized In Cartels Warns U.S. Attack On Vessel From Venezuela Could Anticipate One Against Mexican Organizations: 'The Line Has Been Crossed'

Ioan Grillo, a journalist specialized in cartels, warned that the U.S. attack against a vessel that departed Venezuela could be the prelude of one against criminal organizations in Mexico.

"The missile attack on the alleged "drug boat" in the Caribbean shows how the terrorist designation of cartels and gangs works now. The line has been crossed. This is how an attack on a Mexican cartel target could look like," Ioan Grillo said in a social media post.

Such a development would likely strain relations between the U.S. and Mexico, especially considering that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly rejected the possibility.

Speaking at the Presidential Palace this week, Sheinbaum said such an action would not manage to fully eradicate criminal organizations in the country, adding that fighting them "is much more complex."

"We don't agree with it. Firstly because it's not necessary. Secondly because it would violate our sovereignty. And thirdly because organized crime is much more complex," Sheinbaum claimed.

On Monday, Sheinbaum said her administration is willing to enter new security agreements with the U.S. but they must be done "without subordination."

Speaking at her first State of the Union, she addressed reports about U.S. counterpart Donald Trump directing the Pentagon to explore the possibility of carrying out military strikes against cartels in Mexican territory.

Sheinbaum had already anticipated that the Trump administration "offered more intervention in our country" but she rejected any possibility of it happening. She said she refused the offer because her administration will "never sign something that from our perspective violates our sovereignty or our territory." "Never. They might have the intent to do it, but we said no, not under that scheme," she added.