Overview

• DEA announced Project Portero as a binational push against cartel “gatekeepers,” describing a multi‑week training and intelligence program at a southwest border center.
• President Claudia Sheinbaum said there is no agreement with the DEA, stating that only SSPC officers attended a workshop in Texas and that her government was not consulted on any operation.
• The U.S. Embassy publicly affirmed DEA cooperation on Project Portero, posting a message that framed the effort as a shared response to shared problems.
• Sheinbaum emphasized sovereignty, territorial limits and coordination without subordination, pointing to a separate security accord being finalized with the U.S. Department of State.
• As of Aug. 20, both sides maintain conflicting accounts and the status of any formal arrangement remains unresolved pending diplomatic clarification.