Mexican president downplays US drone surveillance report, calls it a 'little campaign'

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Tuesday downplayed reports of covert US drone surveillance on drug cartels, calling it part of a “little campaign” without elaborating further.

Sheinbaum was responding to a journalist’s question about a CNN report alleging that the CIA is using MQ-9 Reaper drones for surveillance in Mexico.

“It’s part of this little campaign,” she said, using a Spanish diminutive that appeared to minimize the issue. It was unclear whether she was referring to Trump’s security policies or a broader U.S. media narrative on targeting cartels.

The existence of covert US drone operations in Mexico has not been previously disclosed, and Reuters was unable to verify CNN’s claims.

Sheinbaum’s remarks come amid strained US-Mexico relations as President Donald Trump pushes to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations in his bid to curb fentanyl trafficking into the US.

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Trump has also deployed thousands of additional troops to the border and threatened tariffs against Mexico, the US’s largest trading partner, if it fails to curb illegal migration and drug smuggling.

Sheinbaum said last week Mexico was aware of airborne surveillance by the U.S. military but not concerned since it was over U.S. territory. She also said she doubted the Trump administration would take military action, which would be seen as a breach of sovereignty by many Mexicans.

Her government would request transparency and collaboration over the flights, Sheinbaum said last week.

With inputs from agencies