(NewsNation) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio is calling his meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday a significant day in the history of the relationship between the U.S. and Mexico, as the White House continues to crack down on illegal immigration and criminal cartels that are responsible for the trafficking of humans and dangerous narcotics into the United States.
The meeting, which resulted in a cooperative agreement between the two countries, took place just one day after the U.S. military killed 11 suspected members of the Tren de Aragua cartel during a strike in the Caribbean. The White House posted video of the “kinetic strike” that destroyed a drug boat leaving Venezuela, which the Trump administration said was filled with drugs headed for the U.S.
President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post on Truth Social that he ordered the strike targeting the suspected members of the Tren de Aragua, which has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization that is said to be operating under the control of Venezuelan President Nicholas Maduro.
“The strike resulted in 11 terrorists killed in action,” Trump wrote, adding that no U.S. military forces were injured during the targeted strike. “Please let this serve as notice to anybody even thinking about bringing drugs into the United States of America. BEWARE!”
On Wednesday, Trump referred to Venezuela as “a very bad actor,” which has sent millions of people into the United States illegally, many of whom are suspected Tren de Aragua members.
The Associated Press reported that Rubio is scheduled to speak with Sheinbaum about tariffs, trade, drugs and migration. The talks, which are coming during Rubio’s third trip to Latin America since he was appointed, come as the Trump administration has begun deploying the U.S. military to contend with criminal cartel activity.
In a joint press conference after Wednesday’s meeting, Mexican Foreign Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente called the meeting between Rubio and Sheinbaum “constructive, productive and cordial” that had a well-defined route for the future.
The meeting led to an agreement between the U.S. and Mexican governments, which reaffirms cooperation in “matters of security,” de la Fuente said.
“The goal is to work together to dismantle transnational organized crime through reinforced and strengthened cooperation among our respective national security institutions, law enforcement and judicial authorities, ” he said through a translator.
de la Fuente said that the cooperation “will put an end to” the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs as well as to the end of arms trafficking.
“I’m very happy we have reached a level of historic cooperation,” Rubio said. “Never in the history of both countries have we seen the level of cooperation that we have right now.”
Rubio announced the formation of a “high-level” implementation group that will meet and coordinate regularly to ensure that all of the issues the two countries are working on together will continue. Rubio characterized his visit as “very productive,” but said the meetings will continue.
On Wednesday, federal authorities announced what they say is the “largest law enforcement bust of precursor chemicals” that are linked to the Sinaloa cartel that originated in China. The operation was carried out by multiple federal agencies, including the FBI and Drug Enforcement Administration.
The bust focused on two shipments hauling 1,300 barrels that contained more than 700,000 pounds of chemicals used to manufacture more than 420,000 pounds of methamphetamine, which has a value of $569 million, federal officials announced on Wednesday.
Acting Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Todd Lyons said at a news conference on Wednesday that had the chemicals reached the United States, they would have undoubtedly led to the deaths of Americans.
Before leaving for Mexico, Rubio said Trump “is going to be on offense against drug cartels and drug trafficking in the United States.” Last week, Reuters reported that two Naval ships became the latest U.S. military assets to be sent to the Caribbean to combat cartels that Trump has designated as “narco-terrorist” groups.
Rubio said Wednesday that no other foreign government has displayed the level of cooperation that Mexico has displayed in the fight against crime. He said Sheinbaum has spoken to Trump 14 times and that conversations will continue between the two leaders in a collective effort to fight cartel crime.
“We have a lot to do still when it comes to making progress towards this common goal,” Rubio said.
Rubio said that the attack on the cartels destabilizes not only Venezuela but the entire Caribbean basin and that Trump “plans to use the full power of America and the full might of the United States” to eradicate cartel activity, no matter where the transnational organizations are operating. Rubio said that the days of cartels acting without immunity “are over.”
Maduro has indicated he is deploying 15,000 troops to the border with Colombia, backed by boats, aircraft and drones. On state TV, he accused Washington of fueling a dangerous escalation. Maduro is calling on Colombian authorities to do the same to ensure peace in the area.