Defense Secretary Hegus visits troops in the “Defense Area”
New Mexico’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses will visit the military in a newly formed “defense area” along the US/Mexico border.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Saturday that US President Donald Trump proposed sending US troops to Mexico to fight drug trafficking but rejected the offer because “the sovereignty has not been sold.”
Sinbaum’s comments responded to questions about the Wall Street Journal Report, which was released on May 2, saying Trump is putting pressure on Mexico to combat human trafficking across shared borders.
“In one of (Trumps), I said, ‘Can I help you fight drug trafficking? I suggest that the US military come in to help you,'” said Sinbaum, who spoke at a university event near the capital on Saturday.
“And do you know what I told him? No, President Trump, territory is sacred, sovereignty is sacred, sovereignty is not sold, sovereignty is loved and defended,” the president said.
The National Security Council responded to a request for comment that Trump “has made clear that Mexico must do more to fight these gangs and cartels, and that the US is ready to support and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries.”
The council added that Trump worked closely with Shainbaum to achieve “the safest southwest border in history,” but that “dangerous foreign terrorist organizations continue to threaten drugs and crime that threaten our shared security and the drugs and crime they have spread.”
The White House did not immediately respond when asked by Reuters whether Trump raised a military deployment with Sinbaum.
Trump publicly said that if Mexico fails to dismantle the drug cartel, the US will take unilateral military action. The two leaders have received several calls in recent months to discuss security issues, trade and immigration.
In one of the phones, Shanebaum explained that she asked Trump for help to prevent him from entering Mexico from the US, fueling violence and human trafficking.
“We can work together, we can work together, but you can do it on your territory, we can do it on ours,” Sinbaum said.
The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that tensions between the two leaders had risen towards the end of their April 16 phone conversation.
In February, the US designated the Sinaloa Cartel and other Mexican drug cartels as global terrorist organizations. Analysts could be a stepping stone for such military action.
Air surveillance of Mexican drug cartels by the US military is also increasing. This is increasing as part of an effort to gather intelligence to determine the best way to work for their activities.
Sinbaum later proposed constitutional reforms aimed at adding protection to Mexican national sovereignty.
(Reporting by Lucinda Elliott, Editing by Diane Craft and Daniel Wallis)
