Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador denied that any parts of his country are controlled by drug cartels in response to recent comments from U.S Secretary of State.
The U.S Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, had said in a recent hearing that it was "fair to say" that parts of Mexico were controlled by cartels instead of the government.
Blinken also highlighted that the opioid fentanyl was coming from Mexico and killing both Americans and Mexicans.
In a regular news conference, Obrador firmly denied the allegations made during Blinken's statement.
"That is false, there is no place in the country that does not have the presence of authorities." he said.
He also added that his government was working towards reducing drug dependency rates through supporting education, attacking poverty and promoting creative opportunities.
However, Blinken's comments fueled a tense situation between Mexico and the United States.
In the eyes of the United States, Mexico has a "significant control deficit" that impedes joint efforts to combat criminal organizations.
Blinken suggested that both parties can work together to decrease drug addiction and confront the amount of drug trafficking from Mexico.
He also cited President Joe Biden's backing of aid for anti-narcotics efforts in Central America and financial aid to governments in the region for economic development to tackle outward migration.
As President Obrador continues with his anti-narcotics plan, his government has made strides to seize properties and funds from drug lords but reports still show that violence remains high from cartels fighting for control in the country.
With the United States and Mexico still embroiled in a tense situation, only time will tell whether both nations' governments can put their differences aside and come up with strong, new solutions to minimize the impact caused by drug cartels on Mexico's citizens.