Politics
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that Mexico is not, and will never become, a colony or protectorate of any foreign country.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Monday that Mexico is not, and will never become, a colony or protectorate of any foreign country. Her remarks came after U.S. President Donald Trump shared a map on social media depicting Mexican territory under the American flag. In a post on X, Sheinbaum said, “We reaffirm that Mexico is not, and will never be, a colony or protectorate of any foreign country. We are proud to be a free, independent and sovereign nation.”
Trump shared the image on his Truth Social platform without providing any explanation. The map showed the United States, Mexico and Canada covered in the colors and stripes of the U.S. flag, while other territories were also depicted under the American flag.
Sheinbaum’s comments came amid renewed tensions between Mexico and the United States over security, trade and migration. She has repeatedly emphasized Mexico’s national sovereignty while also expressing her government’s desire to maintain cooperative relations with Washington. The latest incident followed Trump’s promotion of a proposal to rename the U.S. state of New Mexico as “New America.” He shared an image in which the word “Mexico” had been crossed out and replaced with “America.”
Trump has also previously promoted changes to geographical names, including his administration’s use of the term “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico. However, Trump’s latest map was not accompanied by any formal announcement of a U.S. territorial claim over Mexico.
Mexico and the United States share a border of approximately 3,145 kilometers and have extensive economic ties. The two countries are also closely connected through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which governs much of their trade.
Sheinbaum has sought to defend Mexico’s sovereignty while managing relations with Trump. At the same time, the Trump administration has increased pressure on Mexico to step up efforts against drug trafficking and illegal migration. The Mexican government maintains that bilateral cooperation should be based on mutual respect and recognition of each country’s sovereignty.
