On Friday, President Claudia Sheinbaum postponed a statement by the United States Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, that the US military could unilaterally act against drug cartels on Mexican soil if the life of American citizens was in danger.
“We do not agree. He said everything was on the table, finally no, “said Sheinbaum at his morning press conference.
“Everything is not on the table, neither on the chair, nor on the ground, nor nowhere. Not that, ”she said.
His remarks came after a day after Johnson was questioned by the United States Senator Chris Coons on his opinions on American unilateral military action against Mexican cartels.
“Sovereignty is a basic principle. I understand that The designation of drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations reflects generalized concerns and anger in the United States on the cartels and the impact of fentanyl “,” Coons said during a Senate hearing For three of the candidates of President Donald Trump’s ambassadors.
“Do you want to agree that we should not take any military measure against the Cartels of the Mexican territory without the knowledge of the Mexican government?”
Johnson – An army veteran and former CIA official who was a Salvador ambassador during Trump’s first mandate as president – said that he thought that “any decision to take measures against a cartel in Mexico, our first desire would be that this would be done in partnership with our Mexican partners”.
“That said, I know that President Trump takes responsibility very seriously to safeguard the lives of American citizens and that there is a case where the life of American citizens is in danger, I think that all the cards are on the table,” he said.
“I cannot answer what the commander -in -chief could decide according to the information he has. I have been a private citizen for four years, but I think we would prefer to work with our partners in Mexico, “said Johnson.
The first day of his second term, Trump signed a decree Ordering the American Secretary of State to consider the designation of drug cartels as a foreign terrorist organization. He was later asked if he planned to “order special forces in Mexico” to “remove” the cartels.
“Could happen,” said Trump. “Foreign things have happened.”
In July of last year, Trump said “absolutely” When asked in an interview with Fox News if the “strikes” against Mexican cartels were “still on the table”.
The Wall Street Journal reported on February 28 That during his first call with senior Mexican military officials, the Secretary in the United States of Defense, Pete Hegseth, said that “if Mexico did not face the collusion between the country’s government and the drug cartels, the US military was ready to take unilateral measures.”
“The best brass in Mexico who was on this call were shocked and angry, feeling that he suggested American military action in Mexico,” said the WSJ, quoting “people informed of the January 31 call”.
For his part, “government efficiency” of Trump, Tsar Elon Musk wrote on X on February 19 That six Mexican cartels and two other criminal organizations were “eligible for drone strikes” following the designation by the State Department of Groups as foreign terrorist organizations.
The CIA recently stolen unarmed drones on Mexico to spy on drugs and to chase fentanyl laboratories – with permission from the Mexican government, According to Sheinbaum.
The president previously rejected repeated statements of the American government that the Mexican government ends with drug cartels and provides them with “shelters”.
Despite “the defamation that the White House makes against the government of Mexico” – as Sheinbaum described the affirmations – the president maintained what she calls a “relationship of respect” with Trump in the eight weeks since he started his second term. Last week, she concluded an agreement with him that led to suspension of most American prices on Mexican products Only two days after their taxation.
Trump said on social networks that he had decided to suspend the prices on Mexican products covered by the USMCA free trade pact “as accommodation and respect”, Sheinbaum, with whom he said that he “works hard … on the border, both in terms of fentanyl.”
Sheinbaum said many times that Mexico was willing to collaborate with the United States on security issues, but will not accept any violation of its sovereignty.
She repeated this message on Friday.
“We collaborate in a framework of respect, we coordinate with each other, there is in fact a very good coordination. There is a very good coordination because there is respect between the two countries, and (there are) a collaboration in the context of our sovereignty, “said Sheinbaum.
“… We will continue to collaborate, to coordinate together. If it is ratified by the Senate, there will be a good relationship with the ambassador, but, as we have said, Mexico is respected, “she said.
By the editor -in -chief of Mexico News Daily Peter Davies ((Protected by e-mail)))
