US Increases Pressure on Mexico: NYT

The United States is ramping up pressure on Mexico by allowing US special operations forces or CIA agents to participate in joint raids aimed at destroying Mexican drug laboratories, reports the New York Times, citing anonymous sources.

According to US officials, the United States is intensifying pressure on Mexico to obtain permission for American troops to conduct joint operations to eliminate fentanyl laboratories within the country, the newspaper states.

The proposal was first made in early 2025 but was later rejected. However, discussions have resumed following a US military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro.

Sources indicate that American officials want either special operations forces or CIA agents to accompany Mexican soldiers during raids on suspected fentanyl laboratories. The publication asserts that these joint operations would represent a significant expansion of US presence and influence in Mexico.