Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum firmly rejected a proposal from US President Donald Trump to deploy American troops on Mexican soil to combat drug cartels, reaffirming her country’s commitment to territorial sovereignty.
“Sovereignty is not for sale. Sovereignty is loved and defended,” Sheinbaum told supporters at an event in eastern Mexico on Saturday, responding to what she described as an offer made during an April 16 phone call with Trump.
The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the discussions, that tension rose toward the end of a 45-minute phone call when Trump pushed for US armed forces to take a leading role in battling Mexican drug gangs.
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Read: Trump Administration Considers Drone Strikes Against Mexican Drug Cartels
Sheinbaum has attempted to defuse the situation while maintaining Mexico’s longstanding position against foreign military intervention. At her Monday press conference, she emphasized that communication between the two leaders had been “very good” despite the disagreement.
“We can work together, but you in your territory and us in ours,” the Mexican president said.
Mexico has taken its own measures to combat cartel violence, deploying 10,000 additional troops to the border region and sending 29 high-level organized crime operatives to face justice in the United States, including Rafael Caro Quintero, convicted of killing a DEA agent in 1985.
Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican goods and has designated several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that grants US law enforcement broader authority to police their activities.
Related: Is Mexico Charting A New Trade Path Beyond US Borders?
Sheinbaum has warned that her country would not tolerate any “invasion” of its national sovereignty by US forces. But, Kyle Bass has some, well, thoughts:
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