Day 592 — Sheinbaum and Trump Hold 'Cordial and Excellent' Phone Call; Agree on Bilateral Meeting (May 27) and Security-USMCA Coordination

On May 16, 2026 (Day 592, Saturday), President Claudia Sheinbaum and U.S. President Donald Trump held a direct phone call that Sheinbaum described publicly as 'cordial and excellent.' The conversation covered two main bilateral tracks: (1) SECURITY COOPERATION: The two leaders agreed to continue coordinated action on cartel activity, fentanyl interdiction, and border security — the call came just days after the U.S. formally published a document recognizing Mexico's 'Attention to Causes' security strategy (May 11), which Sheinbaum framed as diplomatic de-escalation following weeks of tension over U.S. sovereignty threats, CIA unauthorized operations in Chihuahua, and the DOJ indictment of Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya. (2) USMCA / T-MEC TRADE: The two leaders discussed the status of USMCA renegotiation and agreed that a formal bilateral meeting would take place on May 27, 2026, when U.S. envoys/collaborators would visit Mexico City. This follows the first formal bilateral USMCA negotiating round confirmed for the week of May 25 in Mexico City. Context: The call was notable for its tone — described as cooperative rather than confrontational — amid a week in which Pete Hegseth and DEA Director Terry Cole had used escalatory rhetoric about Mexico. The call also came two days before the EU-Mexico Summit (May 22) at which Mexico will sign the modernized Global Agreement, materially strengthening Mexico's negotiating hand by providing credible trade alternatives.