Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends her morning press convention on the Nationwide Palace in Mexico Metropolis, April 2, 2025.
Marco Ugarte/AP
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Marco Ugarte/AP
MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned on Saturday that U.S. President Donald Trump proposed sending American troops into Mexico to assist her administration battle drug trafficking however that she rejected it.
Her remarks to supporters in jap Mexico got here in response to a Wall Road Journal article revealed the day earlier than, describing a tense cellphone name final month during which Trump reportedly pressured her to simply accept an even bigger function for the U.S. navy in combating drug cartels in Mexico.
“He mentioned, ‘How can we provide help to battle drug trafficking? I suggest that america navy are available in and provide help to.’ And you understand what I mentioned to him? ‘No, President Trump.'”
She added: “Sovereignty just isn’t on the market. Sovereignty is cherished and defended.”
White Home Nationwide Safety Council spokesman James Hewitt mentioned in an announcement later Saturday that Trump has labored carefully with Mexico’s president “to attain essentially the most safe southwest border in historical past.”
“Harmful International Terrorist Organizations, nevertheless, proceed to threaten our shared safety and the medication and crime they unfold threaten American communities throughout the nation,” the assertion mentioned. “The President has been crystal clear that Mexico should do extra do fight these gangs and cartels and america stands prepared to help and increase the already shut cooperation between our two international locations.”
The U.S. navy presence has elevated steadily alongside its southern border with Mexico in current months, following Trump’s order in January to extend the military’s function in stemming the move of migrants.
The U.S. Northern Command has surged troops and tools to the border, elevated manned surveillance flights to observe fentanyl trafficking alongside the border and sought expanded authority for U.S. Particular Forces to work carefully with Mexican forces conducting operations towards cartels.
Trump designated most of the gangs and cartels smuggling medication into the U.S. as overseas terrorist organizations on Feb. 19, limiting their actions and lending regulation enforcement extra sources to behave towards them.
However Sheinbaum’s hardline stance Saturday signaled that U.S. strain for unilateral navy intervention would put her and Trump on a collision course after months of cooperation on immigration and commerce.
“We are able to work collectively, however you in your territory and us in ours,” Sheinbaum mentioned.
