New President in Mexico will not change the country’s corrupt path in relations with the US.

Claudia Sheinbaum, the hand-picked successor of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, is set to become the next president of Mexico.

However, this poses a challenge as the relationship between the US and Mexico continues to worsen, leading to the empowerment of drug cartels and a surge in overdoses and uncontrolled migration into the United States.

Sheinbaum’s victory is largely attributed to the popularity of the current Lopez Obrador government, indicating that she may not distance herself from him.

During Lopez Obrador’s administration, US-Mexico relations have deteriorated significantly.

New threats have emerged at the border, including the spread of fentanyl, increased migration, and the presence of terrorist networks. Opportunities for collaboration, such as relocating supply chains from China, have been missed.

Narco-corruption in Mexico is a major obstacle to enacting necessary changes.

To stabilize the crucial relationship between the US and Mexico, the Biden administration must take action.

So far, Washington has largely watched as the relationship continues to decline.

This is evident in the breakdown of counter-narcotics cooperation with Mexico.

Opioid overdoses, fueled by Chinese chemicals flowing into Mexico to supply the cartels, result in over 100,000 American deaths annually.

Despite this, the Biden administration has not addressed Mexico’s denial of involvement in the fentanyl crisis.

When Mexico terminated the Merida Initiative, disrupting cooperation with US law enforcement, President Biden remained silent.

America’s leniency towards Mexico extends back several presidential administrations.

In 2020, under President Trump, Mexican defense minister Salvador Cienfuegos was arrested for collaborating with cartels. However, pressure from Mexico led to his release and a commendation from AMLO.

In 2011, the Obama administration dropped a DEA investigation implicating AMLO in narco-corruption.

The Biden administration’s failure to address Mexico’s security issues, particularly with fentanyl, is concerning.

Additionally, the administration has not taken action on trade disputes or expropriation of US companies in Mexico.

By avoiding confrontations with Mexico, the Biden administration can focus on other foreign policy goals and secure temporary support on migration issues.

As migration surges, the Biden administration has urged Mexico to prevent migrant caravans from reaching the US border.

Mexico has increased border enforcement in response to the threat of a second Trump administration, which promised to confront cartels with US special forces in 2023.

However, the short-term benefits of this approach may lead to long-term negative consequences for Americans.

Fentanyl inflows to the US tripled between 2021 and 2023, and illegal migration has also increased significantly.

AMLO’s actions against US interests are expected to continue under Sheinbaum’s administration.

The next US administration should not accept this status quo and must take steps to improve the situation.

Ending the outsourcing of migration enforcement to Mexico would enhance border security and reduce Mexico’s leverage over the US.

The US should also prioritize national security and economic interests in the relationship with Mexico. Linking trade and remittances to national security and migration could prompt Mexico to take more responsibility for border security. The upcoming 2026 review of the USMCA trade agreement presents an opportunity to address these issues.

If necessary, the US should consider deploying military assets to combat criminal cartels facilitating migration and drug trafficking, which are harming Americans.

It is crucial for Washington to prioritize the relationship with Mexico for the benefit of both countries.

Andres Martinez-Fernandez is a senior policy analyst in the Heritage Foundation’s Allison Center for National Security.