Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has dismissed the possibility of a conflict with the United States following an incident involving two CIA agents who died in an accident in the northern state of Chihuahua. The agents, according to Mexican authorities, were not authorized to operate within the country.
During her regular morning press conference on Monday, Sheinbaum expressed a desire to move past the controversy that emerged last week. She stated that while she hopes this remains an isolated event, the federal government expects the United States to respect Mexico's constitution and national security laws going forward. "Let us hope this is an exceptional case ... and that a situation like this never happens again," she remarked.
Mexico's Ministry of Security reported on Saturday that one of the deceased agents had entered Mexico as a tourist, while the other used a diplomatic passport. The ministry reiterated that it was unaware of any foreign agents operating within its territory. The CIA has declined to comment on the matter.
The two deceased individuals were confirmed to be CIA members by a U.S. official and two other sources familiar with the situation, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of intelligence matters. The Associated Press reported these details last week.
Last year, the Mexican government reached an agreement with the Trump administration to coordinate security actions and share information while respecting the sovereignty of both nations. On Monday, Sheinbaum insisted that the specifics of the operation in Chihuahua must be clarified. She urged the Attorney General's Office and relevant authorities to take action following an upcoming debate in the Senate.
Chihuahua Governor María Eugenia Campos, a prominent opposition figure, has been summoned to testify in Mexico City on Tuesday alongside State Attorney César Jáuregui. The presence of the CIA and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Mexico has long been a source of controversy, often coming to light only when problems arise. A notable incident occurred in 2012 when a U.S. Embassy vehicle was fired upon near Mexico City, wounding two CIA agents.
