• 🚢 Missing aid boats: Two small vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba have gone missing after departing Isla Mujeres — 9 crew members of mixed nationalities are on board and the Mexican Navy is searching.
• 🪖 US soldiers crossed the border: US troops briefly entered Mexican territory in Nogales while installing barbed wire, but withdrew when asked. Sheinbaum called it unintentional and declared there was no “intervention” or “violation.”
• ⚽ World Cup tourism pitch: Sheinbaum assured tourists Mexico is safe to visit, pointing to an 8.6% jump in international arrivals in January and a dedicated security plan for the World Cup.

Why today’s mañanera matters

Just over a month after chaotic violence broke out across Mexico in response to a military operation targeting the now-deceased Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén “El Mencho” Oseguera, President Claudia Sheinbaum declared that tourists have nothing to fear when visiting the country.

There is no doubt that the mayhem of Sunday, Feb. 22 — including the setting up of numerous fiery narco-blockades and armed clashes between cartel henchmen and security forces — damaged Mexico’s international reputation.

As she has done previously, Sheinbaum used her Friday press conference to attempt to dispel fears among foreigners planning to visit Mexico, including for the FIFA men’s World Cup, which Mexico will co-host with the United States and Canada in June and July.

Also of note at the final mañanera of the week were the president’s comments on two humanitarian aid vessels that are missing in the Caribbean Sea, and her remarks on an incident at Mexico’s northern border.

2 vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Cuba are still missing 

Sheinbaum told reporters that authorities are still searching for two sailboats that went missing after departing Mexico to take humanitarian aid to Cuba.

The Mexican Navy said in a statement on Thursday that it had begun a search and rescue mission aimed at locating two sailboats that departed Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, for Havana, Cuba, last Friday. It said that the vessels were carrying “nine crew members of different nationalities.”

The navy also said that the vessels were expected to reach Cuba between Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

Sheinbaum said that a Navy vessel was monitoring the two “small boats” that are missing, but lost contact with them.

Mexico’s navy has launched a search operation after two boats carrying nine crew members and humanitarian aid to Cuba went missing in the Caribbean. pic.twitter.com/WW2n9yvH3A

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 27, 2026

Mexican Navy vessels have also transported humanitarian aid to Cuba, where people are facing a situation of extreme hardship due to a U.S. oil blockade and other factors. Sheinbaum said that a Navy vessel carrying aid arrived in Cuba this morning.

US soldiers breach Mexico-US border 

A reporter noted that she had seen reports that U.S. soldiers entered Mexico earlier this week, crossing the border between Nogales, Arizona, and Nogales, Sonora.

Asked what she knew about the incident, Sheinbaum said that the soldiers crossed the border by two meters and immediately returned to the United States when they were asked to do so.

According to an El Universal newspaper report, at least eight U.S. soldiers were putting up barbed wire along the border when they entered Mexico on Tuesday. Citing witnesses, the newspaper said that the soldiers came up to eight meters into the “national territory” of Mexico. National Guard personnel reportedly asked the U.S. soldiers to withdraw. The incident occurred where rail tracks cross the border.

Sheinbaum played down the incident, saying that there was no “intervention” or “violation” of any kind because the soldiers entered Mexico unintentionally.

Sheinbaum: Tourists can visit Mexico ‘safely’

A reporter declared that Mexico has been “very stigmatized,” described as a country where “you run the risk” of being abducted.

Asked what her message was for Mexico-bound tourists ahead of the World Cup, Sheinbaum responded that “they can come to the country safely.”

She went on to highlight that tourism has increased despite the dissemination of anti-Mexico “propaganda.”

Sheinbaum specifically highlighted that international tourist numbers increased 8.6% in January compared to the same month of last year.

“In particular for the World Cup … we have a series of actions to protect tourists,” she added.

Security Minister Omar García Harfuch presented the federal government’s World Cup security strategy earlier this month.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)