Mexico Caught Between Trump and the Cartels

Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as El Mencho, had evaded capture for two decades as the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. His killing over the weekend, in part because of a romantic rendezvous, was a clear success for Mexican authorities—but its timing was striking given President Trump’s repeated demands that Mexico dismantle the cartels and his threats that the U.S.

military might act if it did not. President Claudia Sheinbaum has overseen one of the most aggressive offensives against the cartels in more than a decade. She authorized Mexican forces to take out the nation’s most wanted, saying there was no participation of U.S.

forces and that the understanding with the United States is based primarily on the exchange of intelligence; U.S. agencies, including the C.I.A., provided assistance for the operation. Mexican officials credited American agencies with help but said the decisive lead came when Mexican intelligence identified an associate of one of Mr.

Mexico

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