Trump asserted that Mexico is controlled by cartels rather than its president, Claudia Sheinbaum, and warned of a need for action, according to RTVA news.
“The president of Mexico is a good woman, but the cartels control Mexico, not her,” Trump said. “We’ve got to do something about Mexico.”
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump’s remarks, stating that her country opposes foreign intervention in its internal affairs, including in Venezuela. She reaffirmed Mexico’s sovereignty.
“Mexico is an independent country with full sovereignty,” Sheinbaum said. “While cooperation with the United States on shared issues such as combating drug trafficking and security continues, this does not mean undermining sovereignty or accepting intervention.”
Earlier this week, Trump signed an executive order classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, granting the US broader legal authority to combat the drug.
The US media claims that the fentanyl, reportedly largely trafficked into the US from Mexico, is manufactured by cartels using imported chemical precursors from China.
Separately, Trump’s renewed focus on ground action in Mexico aligns with concerns voiced by lawmakers and officials regarding the escalating violence and cartel activity in the country.