Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday rejected DEA claims of ties between her government and drug cartels, calling the allegations baseless and "very unfortunate."

"It seems more like a political statement than one backed by evidence," she said during her daily press conference, in response to DEA Administrator Terry Cole's claims on Tuesday that the Mexican government and cartel networks were "one and the same."

He also said the connections were the agency's "number one priority."

Sheinbaum said Cole's remarks appeared to be political rather than evidence-based.

Sheinbaum said the DEA should focus its efforts on combating drug trafficking, distribution, and ‌money laundering within the United States, which ​she described as ‌the world's largest market for illicit drugs.

On Tuesday, the Mexican government ‌issued a formal statement rejecting Cole's remarks, calling them inconsistent with the results of its anti-cartel efforts.

The statement ⁠reiterated Mexico's willingness to ‌cooperate with Washington, ⁠provided such collaboration respects Mexican sovereignty.

The argument comes amid worsening relations ⁠between ⁠the United States and Mexico. 

A U.S. indictment of Sinaloa Gov. Ruben ‌Rocha in April triggered a strong rebuke from Sheinbaum's government, which has said there is not enough evidence to ‌execute a ​warrant for his arrest.

This ‌week, Mexico also filed criminal complaints with U.S. prosecutors over the deaths of Mexican nationals ​in immigration enforcement in the United States.