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Mexico’s President Stands Firm: “We Won’t Use Force Against Cartels if It Violates Human Rights”
Mexico City, 24 February 2026 — In the midst of renewed violence triggered by the killing of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, leader of the powerful Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), Mexico’s president has drawn international attention for her position on the use of force in the country’s long-running battle with organised crime.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, who leads the left-wing MORENA party, has reiterated that Mexico will not return to an all-out military “war on drugs,” arguing that heavy-handed force — especially if it undermines human rights or legal due process — is outside the framework of the country’s laws. She has described such an approach as contrary to Mexico’s constitutional order and moral obligations, a stance that has drawn both praise and criticism from domestic and international observers.
A Rights-Centred Approach
Sheinbaum’s strategy continues a shift away from the militarised tactics of previous eras, particularly those seen during the early 2000s under former president Felipe Calderón, when deploying the army against cartels coincided with spikes in violence and accusations of rights violations. Human rights advocates argue that unchecked force contributed to disappearances, torture and extrajudicial killings, eroding public trust in state institutions.
According to government statements and legal analysts, Mexico’s constitution imposes strict limits on domestic military operations and prioritises civilian law enforcement and judicial processes. The president’s team says targeted operations — such as the recent raid that resulted in El Mencho’s death — can occur within these legal limits without setting a precedent for broad military engagement.
Critics and International Pressure
Critics on the right argue that insisting on human-rights safeguards could hamper Mexico’s ability to effectively confront heavily armed cartels, allowing criminal groups to operate with impunity and prolonging the insecurity that has plagued large swathes of the country. The United States — where cartel violence and drug flows are major political issues — has publicly called on Mexico to “intensify” its efforts against organised crime. Former U.S. President Donald Trump and other U.S. officials have at times suggested military-oriented responses, although Sheinbaum has firmly rejected any foreign military action on Mexican soil.
Sheinbaum’s human-rights-centred approach also comes at a time when Mexico is preparing to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a spotlight event that has put extra pressure on authorities to balance security concerns with civil liberties and international tourism confidence.
Public Safety and Strategy Ahead
While the president maintains that protecting human rights and the rule of law are core to her security policy, the ongoing violence — with armed clashes erupting in states like Jalisco and Michoacán following cartel retaliation — underscores the challenge of crafting a strategy that is both effective and rights-respecting. Analysts note that lasting change in cartel dynamics will likely depend not only on security tactics but also on socioeconomic reforms and cooperation with regional partners.
Attached is a news article regarding Mexico president saying it’s against the cartels human rights to use force against the cartels
Article written and configured by Christopher Stanley
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