Mexican authorities downplay potential escalation following Trump's directive to take aim at drug cartels
The United States and Mexico have taken significant steps to combat drug trafficking groups, with both nations focusing on collaborative efforts to curb the flow of illegal substances.
In February 2023, the U.S. State Department designated six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, providing a legal foundation for potential military actions against them. Former President Trump, in response, signed a presidential directive authorizing the Pentagon to use military force against specific cartels. However, as of March 2023, no confirmed active U.S. military action has been reported in Mexico.
The policy evolved over time, with increased military repositioning and presence around Latin America. By mid-2023, over 4,000 U.S. troops (Marines and sailors) and various naval assets were deployed to Southern Command areas near Latin America and the Caribbean. This buildup aimed to provide a broad range of options to address threats from designated narco-terrorist organizations, although direct offensive operations within Mexico were not confirmed.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has emphasized that the participation of U.S. military forces on Mexican territory is absolutely ruled out. The Mexican foreign ministry also stated that it would not accept the participation of U.S. military forces on their territory.
Sheinbaum has made efforts to demonstrate to the U.S. that Mexico is taking action against its drug cartels. The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, acknowledged the shared enemy of violent criminal cartels, emphasizing the need for collaboration between the two countries.
The situation has not been without controversy. The U.S. Justice Department doubled the bounty on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro to $50 million, accusing him of leading the Cartel of the Suns. Venezuela has dismissed these allegations, with Foreign Minister Yvan Gil calling them the "most ridiculous smokescreen we have ever seen."
The New York Times reported that President Donald Trump had secretly signed a directive to use military force against Latin American drug cartels. However, the White House did not immediately confirm the order mentioned in the report, and the Pentagon referred questions on the issue to the White House.
Sheinbaum, often referred to as the "Trump whisperer" for securing reprieves from Trump's threats of tariffs over drug and migrant smuggling across the shared border, has maintained that the executive order had nothing to do with the participation of any military personnel or any institution in Mexico.
Both countries have reaffirmed their commitment to protecting their peoples from drug trafficking groups, with the U.S. embassy in Mexico stating that they would use "every tool at our disposal" to address this issue. The ongoing policy and potential future actions against drug trafficking groups in Latin America remain under study and discussion.
- The world news has been abuzz with reports about the U.S. designating Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, which could lead to potential military actions against them, as a part of the war-and-conflicts sphere.
- In the realm of general-news, the discussion about the U.S. military's increased presence in Southern Command areas, including Latin America and the Caribbean, has been a topic of Politics, particularly regarding the ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking groups.
- Crime-and-justice news covers the controversy surrounding the U.S. Justice Department's doubling of the bounty on Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro, accused of leading the Cartel of the Suns, causing tension and disputes between these nations.
