Trump proposed dispatching troops to Mexico, an offer that Sheinbaum declined.
Fresh Take:
Claudia Sheinbaum, the Mexican President, had a blunt response to claims that US President Donald Trump proposed sending American troops across the border to battle drug cartels. During a university event near the capital, Sheinbaum shared that Trump had apparently floated the idea of the US military joining the fight against narcotrafficking, but her response was clear: "Sovereignty is not for sale."
The Wall Street Journal had previously reported on May 2 that Trump was leaning on Mexico to accept a more significant US military presence in countering drug cartels along the shared border. According to Sheinbaum, Trump made the offer during one of their conversations—specifically saying, "How can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the U.S. Army come in to help."
US-Mexico collaboration is undoubtedly crucial in this battle, but Sheinbaum emphasized that US troops would never be stationed on Mexican territory. "We will never accept the presence of the United States military in our territory," Sheinbaum declared, reinforcing that while the two nations can collaborate, the US military will remain outside their borders.
When asked for comment, a spokesperson from the US National Security Council (NSC) confirmed Trump's push for Mexico to do more to combat drug-related crimes. The spokesperson added that the US stands ready to assist Mexico and that Trump had previously worked closely with Sheinbaum to secure the southwest border. However, the spokesperson also highlighted the ongoing threats from foreign terrorist organizations and the dangers they pose to both countries, reiterating the US's willingness to help.
The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters' query about whether Trump had brought up the issue of troop deployment with Sheinbaum. Amidst rising tensions between the two leaders in April, Trump was reportedly pushing for US armed forces to take a leading role in tackling Mexican drug cartels that produce and peddle fentanyl within the US.
Some analysts have suggested that the US designating the Sinaloa Cartel and other Mexican drug cartels as global terrorist organizations in February could signal a possible escalation towards military action. Already, airborne surveillance of Mexican drug cartels by the US military has increased, with intelligence collection efforts aimed at countering their operations.
In response to these developments, Sheinbaum has put forward a constitutional reform aimed at safeguarding Mexico's national sovereignty.
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Traffic control may need to be heightened in the region due to the escalating tensions between the US and Mexico, as political debates around war-and-conflicts and crime, particularly drug trafficking, dominate the general news. Meanwhile, the ongoing discussions about the potential deployment of US troops in Mexico have raised concerns about potential crossfire and violations of sovereignty, leading to heated debates about foreign intervention in domestic matters.
