Trump: According to the US would start “hitting land with regard to the cartels” in its war on drugs.
Trump: Following recent moves against drug trafficking networks in the area, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his government would soon extend its war against drug cartels to land-based operations.
In an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump said, “We’ve knocked out 97% of the drugs coming in by water, and we are gonna start now hitting land, with regard to the cartels.”
Declaring that “The cartels are running Mexico,” Trump emphasized his worries about the nation, saying, “It’s very, very sad to watch and see what’s happened to that country.”
Earlier this week, Trump warned that “Mexico has to get their act together” after discussing the potential for US military support with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to combat drug gangs.
Sheinbaum responded sharply to Trump’s comments, rejecting foreign involvement and reaffirming Mexico’s sovereignty, according to The Hill. The response came after US forces detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, last week.
Sheinbaum responded to the events on Monday by saying, “We firmly oppose meddling in other nations’ domestic affairs. Latin America’s past is clear and convincing: intervention has never produced democracy, prosperity, or long-term stability.
According to her, “Only the people can build their own future, decide their path, exercise sovereignty over their natural resources, and freely define their form of government.” She emphasized that political futures must be built domestically.
Sheinbaum emphasized that international law “unequivocally” provides “respect for the sovereignty of states, their territorial integrity, and the right of peoples to self-determination.” She said, “Therefore, we state clearly that, for Mexico, and so it must be for all Mexicans: the sovereignty and self-determination of peoples are not optional or negotiable, they are fundamental principles of international law and must always be respected without exception.”
In response, Sheinbaum emphasized the two nations’ continued collaboration in the fight against drug trafficking, stating, “Mexico cooperates with the United States, including for humanitarian reasons, to prevent fentanyl and other drugs from reaching its population, particularly young people.”
“As we’ve previously stated, we don’t want fentanyl, or any drug, to reach any young person, not in the United States, not in Mexico, and not anywhere else in the world,” she continued. We’re taking decisive and responsible action.”
Sheinbaum also emphasized the need to address deeper causes of violence and shared responsibility, saying, “It is important to emphasize that when we talk about shared responsibility, respect, and mutual trust, this violence experienced in our country has, among its causes, the illegal entry of high-powered weapons from the United States into Mexico, as well as the serious problem of drug use in the neighboring country.”
She said, “Similarly, we have pointed out that groups that distribute drugs and launder money in both Mexico and the United States must be firmly combated.”
In response to outside criticism, Sheinbaum said, “Finally, it is necessary to reaffirm that in Mexico the people rule and that we are a free, independent, and sovereign country.” She said, “Cooperation, yes; subordination and intervention, no.”