| Keyword |
Description |
| Non-intervention |
Principle that a country must not interfere in other nations’ internal affairs |
| Encourage |
To give someone support or confidence to act |
| Sovereignty |
A state’s full right to control its own territory and decisions without external control |
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly criticized recent United States military actions in Venezuela, where Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and taken to face criminal charges in New York. In an official statement, the Mexican Foreign Affairs Ministry said that the U.S. attacks in and around Caracas violated Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, which prohibits the use of force against another country’s territorial integrity or political independence. Sheinbaum shared this position on social media and emphasized that Mexico rejects unilateral military operations.
The statement also highlighted Mexico’s traditional foreign policy principles, especially the idea of non‑intervention, meaning that countries should not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations. Mexico called Latin America and the Caribbean a “zone of peace” built on mutual respect and the peaceful resolution of conflicts. For this reason, the government warned that any military action in the region creates serious risks for regional stability. Instead of force, Mexico insisted that dialogue and negotiation are the only legitimate and effective ways to solve political problems.
Mexico also asked the United Nations to act quickly to reduce tensions, encourage dialogue and create conditions for a peaceful and lasting solution in line with international law. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump defended the operation, saying the U.S. had carried out a “large‑scale strike” against Venezuela and captured Maduro. The U.S. accuses Maduro of leading a drug trafficking group known as the “Cartel de los Soles,” which Washington recently labeled a foreign terrorist organization. Trump argued that the U.S. would “run” Venezuela temporarily until a proper transition of power can be organized.
In a Fox News interview, Trump also spoke about Mexico, claiming that drug cartels, not Sheinbaum, are really “running Mexico.” He said he has asked her several times if the U.S. should “take out the cartels,” but that she always refuses, and he warned that “something’s going to have to be done with Mexico.” Sheinbaum, however, has repeatedly said that Mexico is open to security cooperation with the U.S., but will never accept any violation of its sovereignty, such as unilateral 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 |
| Captured |
Capturados |
| Military operation |
Operación militar |
| Sovereignty |
Soberanía |
Time to discuss
- Should powerful countries ever use military force to change another country’s government? Why or why not?
- Is Mexico right to defend non‑intervention even in cases like Venezuela?
- How can Mexico cooperate with the U.S. on security without losing its sovereignty?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- Explain whether you agree more with Sheinbaum’s focus on dialogue or Trump’s harder line, and why.
- Describe why the idea of Latin America as a “zone of peace” might be important for the region’s future.
