WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday mentioned Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected his proposal to ship U.S. troops to Mexico to assist thwart the unlawful drug commerce as a result of she is afraid of the nation’s highly effective cartels.
The feedback by Trump got here a day after Sheinbaum confirmed that Trump pressed her in a name final month to simply accept an even bigger position for the U.S. navy in combating drug cartels in Mexico.
Trump mentioned it was “true” that he proposed sending the troops to Mexico and lashed into Sheinbaum for dismissing the concept.
“Properly she’s so afraid of the cartels she will be able to’t stroll, so you already know that’s the rationale,” Trump mentioned in feedback to reporters aboard Air Power One on Sunday. “And I believe she’s a beautiful girl. The president of Mexico is a beautiful girl, however she is so afraid of the cartels that she will be able to’t even suppose straight.”
The U.S. navy presence alongside the southern border with Mexico has elevated steadily in current months, following Trump’s order in January to extend the military’s position in stemming the circulate of migrants.
Genaro Molina by way of Getty Pictures
The U.S. Northern Command has surged troops and gear to the border, elevated manned surveillance flights to watch fentanyl trafficking alongside the border and sought expanded authority for U.S. Particular Forces to work intently with Mexican forces conducting operations in opposition to cartels.
However Sheinbaum mentioned that U.S. troops working inside Mexico was going too far.
“He mentioned, ‘How can we enable you combat drug trafficking? I suggest that america navy are available and enable you.’ And you already know what I mentioned to him? ‘No, President Trump,’” she mentioned on Saturday. “Sovereignty just isn’t on the market. Sovereignty is beloved and defended.”
She added that she informed Trump their two international locations “can work collectively, however you in your territory and us in ours.”
Trump in February designated as “international terrorist organizations” many gangs and cartels smuggling medication into the U.S. , limiting their actions and lending regulation enforcement extra assets to behave in opposition to them.
However Sheinbaum’s stance — and Trump’s response — recommend that U.S. strain for unilateral navy intervention might create rigidity between the 2 leaders after cooperation on immigration and commerce within the early going of Trump’s second time period.
Trump mentioned the U.S. navy is required to stem the scourge of fentanyl in america.
“They’re unhealthy information,” Trump mentioned of the cartels. “If Mexico needed assist with the cartels we might be honored to go in and do it. I informed her that. I might be honored to go in and do it. The cartels try to destroy our nation.”
The White Home has additionally linked its efforts to cut back the circulate of fentanyl to Trump’s tariff plan, saying he needs to carry Mexico, Canada, and China accountable for stemming the circulate of the drug into the U.S.