A decades-old water treaty is stirring new tensions between Washington and Mexico, and President Donald Trump is turning up the pressure.

On Thursday, Trump threatened Mexico with tariffs and sanctions, accusing it of failing to meet obligations under the 1944 Water Treaty, which governs the sharing of Rio Grande water between the two countries.

“Mexico OWES Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to the amount Mexico still needs to deliver before the current five-year cycle ends in October. So far, less than 30% has arrived, according to official data.

The treaty requires Mexico to send 1.75 million acre-feet of water every five years to the U.S. from six Mexican tributaries. One acre-foot equals roughly half an Olympic-sized pool.

Mexico says severe drought conditions, intensified by climate change, have made it impossible to meet the requirement this cycle. The treaty does allow for deferrals in such cases, rolling the shortfall into the next term.

But Trump isn’t satisfied. “We will keep escalating consequences, including TARIFFS and, maybe even SANCTIONS, until Mexico honors the Treaty, and GIVES TEXAS THE WATER THEY ARE OWED,” he said, adding that his Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins was leading the push to protect Texas farmers.

Mexican officials are reportedly working to devise a plan to boost water deliveries, fearing the dispute could spill over into broader trade negotiations.

Mexico’s presidential office has not yet commented.

With the deadline approaching and tempers rising, the water flowing through the Rio Grande is quickly becoming a symbol of something much larger — trust, diplomacy, and the weight of old agreements under new pressures.

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