| Keyword |
Description |
| Independence |
being free to decide and act without control |
| Stability |
A situation where there is order and peace, without big conflicts or sudden changes |
| Dialogue |
Serious, respectful conversation between sides that disagree, used to find solutions |
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum criticized recent United States military attacks in Venezuela, where Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and taken to face criminal charges in New York. In a formal statement, Mexico said the U.S. strikes in and around Caracas violated Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, which bans using force against another country’s territory or political independence. Sheinbaum shared this message on social media and repeated that Mexico is against unilateral military action and supports respect for international law.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry reminded the world that Mexico’s foreign policy follows a pacifist tradition and defends the idea that Latin America and the Caribbean should be an “area of peace.” According to the statement, any foreign military operation in the region is a serious danger for regional stability. Mexico argued that dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate ways to solve conflicts and even offered to help with mediation so that the crisis in Venezuela can be resolved without war. It also asked the United Nations to act quickly to reduce tensions and create conditions for a peaceful, long‑term solution.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump defended the operation and said the U.S. had carried out a “large‑scale strike” and would temporarily “run” Venezuela until there is a proper transition of power. He accused Maduro of leading a major drug‑trafficking group and at the same time made strong comments about Mexico, claiming that drug cartels, not Sheinbaum, are “running Mexico.” Trump said he has asked Sheinbaum if the U.S. should “take out the cartels,” but that she refuses, and warned that “something’s going to have to be done with Mexico.” Sheinbaum has responded that Mexico is willing to cooperate with the U.S. on security, but will never accept actions that violate Mexico’s sovereignty, such as U.S. military strikes or troops entering Mexican territory.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Independence |
Independencia |
| Area of peace |
Área de paz |
| To cooperate |
Cooperar |
Time to discuss
- Is it better to solve international problems with dialogue or with force?
- Why might Latin America want to be an “area of peace”?
- How can two countries cooperate on security while still respecting each other’s borders?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Do you agree more with Sheinbaum’s pacifist position or with Trump’s tougher approach? Explain.
- How could Mexico help other countries in conflict without using its army?
