Wed Sep 17 06:00:11 UTC 2025: **News Article: Sheinbaum Makes History Leading Mexico’s Independence Day, Defiant Against US Pressure**
**Mexico City, Mexico** – In a historic moment, President Claudia Sheinbaum led Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations on Monday night, becoming the first woman to preside over the traditional “grito” ceremony in 215 years. Tens of thousands gathered in Mexico City’s Zocalo to witness Sheinbaum ring Hidalgo’s bell, the symbolic call to arms that ignited Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain in the early 19th century.
The celebrations, culminating in Tuesday’s military parade, were marked by a strong message of national sovereignty. Sheinbaum delivered a resolute statement against foreign intervention, asserting that “no foreign power makes decisions for us.”
While not naming the United States directly, the President’s declaration comes amidst increasing diplomatic pressure from Washington to combat drug cartels and bolster border security. The US has even suggested deploying troops against cartels, a proposition consistently rejected by the Mexican government.
President Sheinbaum, who took office in October as Mexico’s first female president, has emphasized that her administration’s efforts against cartels, including extraditions and increased fentanyl seizures, serve Mexico’s own interests and are not a response to external pressure. Her stance underlines a commitment to protecting Mexico’s independence and self-determination in the face of growing external scrutiny.