Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has claimed she rejected a plan by President Trump to send troops to Mexico to fight the cartels, because “sovereignty is not for sale.”
Sheinbaum was speaking at a university event on Saturday when she addressed a Wall Street Journal report that claimed President Trump has been pushing for greater US military involvement in fighting the cross-border drug trade.
“In one of the calls, (Trump) said, ‘How can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the U.S. Army come in to help you,’” said Sheinbaum.
“And you know what I told him? No, President Trump, the territory is sacrosanct, sovereignty is sacrosanct, sovereignty is not for sale, sovereignty is loved and defended.”
Sheinbaum added that, although Mexico and the US should collaborate against the cartels, “we will never accept the presence of the United States military in our territory.”
The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that a phone call between Presidents Trump and Sheinbaum on 16 April grew heated as Trump made clear his desire for US forces to lead efforts to fight the Mexican cartels.
In February, the US government designated a number of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations, in a move designed to enhance the range of options available for dealing with them, including the use of military force.
Aerial surveillance of the cartels has since been increased, as well as intelligence-gathering efforts.
In response, President Sheinbaum has proposed constitutional reforms to bolster Mexican national sovereignty.