Mexican Officials Reportedly Discussed Trump's Demands To Potentially Arrest Politicians From Sheinbaum's Party With Alleged Cartel Ties

High-ranking Mexican officials have held meetings to discuss demands from Donald Trump following the capture of Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro, according to a new report.

Demands include the potential arrest of members of President Claudia Sheinbaum's ruling party, Morena, which the U.S. believes have ties with cartels, people familiar with the discussions told the Wall Street Journal.

The outlet noted that so far there is no indication that the U.S. will conduct unilateral military action in the near future. The sources quoted in the article highlighted that communication channels remain open and security cooperation between the countries is robust.

However, some Mexican officials have grown alarmed about the possibility that the Trump administration conducts action in the country.

Tensions escalated over the days that followed the raid that captured Maduro, especially after Trump threatened in an interview to "start hitting land with regards to the cartels."

"Cartels are running Mexico, it's very sad to watch," Trump said in an interview with Fox News last week. The remark was quickly dismissed by Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum, recently telling Bloomberg "I don't believe in an invasion; I don't think it's something they take seriously."

However, a senior Mexican official told The New York Times that the operation made them think "oh boy, this is more serious than we thought, and we are on the list of who could be next, and worse, we have been warned."

Elsewhere in the report, officials noted that they have had to rethink their criticism of the U.S. operation that captured Maduro due to the possibility that it could help trigger Trump.

After she latest threat, Sheinbaum instructed her Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente to get in touch with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who then highlighted the Trump administration's need for "tangible results" when countering criminal organizations.

State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement that the two held a call to "discuss the need for stronger cooperation to dismantle Mexico's violent narcoterrorists networks and stop the trafficking of fentanyl and weapons."

Sheinbaum and Trump also held a phone call on Monday, with the former saying that the latter again suggested sending troops to her country to combat criminal organizations but she again rejected the possibility.

She added that, asides from rejecting allowing U.S. troops in the country, she told Trump that organized crime can't be equated to terrorism and Mexico rejects any action that amounts to an intervention in the country.

"He understood, he was very kind," Sheinbaum said during a passage of the conference. She added that Trump recognized her administration's work in matters of security but noted that more can be done. "What's important is continue maintaining respect and collaboration," Sheinbaum added.