Highlighting a growing tension between the two nations, President Donald Trump discussed the reasons why Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected a common-sense deal.
As America battles the deadly fentanyl crisis fueled by Mexican criminal organizations, President Trump minced no words.
He revealed that Sheinbaum rejected his offer to send U.S. troops to combat deadly drug cartels on Mexican soil, perhaps due to fear of the cartels.
President Trump confirmed he proposed sending American forces across the border during a recent call with Sheinbaum.
He emphasized his commitment to combating cartel violence that is destroying American communities.
In turn, the Mexican president rebuffed the offer, citing her nation’s sovereignty as the primary concern.
“If Mexico wanted help with the cartels, we would be honoured to go in and do it. I told her that I would be honoured to go in and do it. The cartels are trying to destroy our country. They’re evil,” President Trump told reporters while discussing the rejected proposal.
A report described how President Trump allegedly pressured the Mexican leader to accept deeper U.S. military involvement in combating the drug cartels.
Sheinbaum confirmed these reports during a weekend address to supporters in eastern Mexico.
President Trump expressed disappointment in Sheinbaum’s decision, suggesting the Mexican president was compromised by fear.
He did not mince words when describing what he perceives as the real motivation behind her refusal.
“She’s so afraid of the cartels she can’t walk…And I think she’s a lovely woman. The president of Mexico is a lovely woman, but she is so afraid of the cartels that she can’t even think straight,” President Trump stated.
The Mexican president gave a very different explanation for rejecting American military assistance.
“I told him, No, President Trump, our territory is inviolable, our sovereignty is inviolable, our sovereignty is not for sale,” Sheinbaum stated firmly.
“We can share information, but we will never accept the presence of the United States Army on our territory,” she added.
However, many security experts question whether this approach can effectively combat the cartels that operate with near impunity in many regions of Mexico.
This standoff comes after President Trump took decisive action in February by designating numerous drug-smuggling cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.”
By doing so, he expanded U.S. authority to combat these criminal enterprises.
The administration has also increased military presence along the southern border to combat both illegal immigration and drug trafficking.
The U.S. Northern Command has reportedly enhanced surveillance operations and requested expanded authority for operations targeting cartel activities.
Meanwhile, fentanyl smuggled across the southern border continues killing tens of thousands of Americans annually.
The White House National Security Council has emphasized the need for Mexico to take more aggressive action against drug cartels, with the U.S. standing ready to provide necessary assistance.
President Trump previously announced tariffs on Mexico over drug and migrant issues before suspending them under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement.
