“We will never accept the presence of the US Army on our territory,” Sinbaum said.
The Mexican president has rejected President Donald Trump’s offer to deploy US troops in Mexico to fight drug cartels, Mexican President Claudia Sinbaum announced on May 3.
The Wall Street Journal first reported on May 2, based on an anonymous source. Trump reported that he offered to send US troops to play a leading role in efforts within Mexico to counter the cartels. Shanebaum was asked to comment on the Wall Street Journal report on Saturday as he attended an event near the Mexican capital.
“Do you know what I told him? “No, President Trump, territory is inviolable. Sovereignty is inviolable,” Sinbaum told the audience.
The Mexican president is willing to work with the US on some measures to counter cartel activities, but said he will draw the line into her country’s US boots on the ground.
“We can share information, but we will never accept the presence of the US Army on our territory,” she said.
The Epoch Times contacted the White House for comments on reported military deployment and administration communications with Shainbaum. The White House did not respond before the opening hours.
Since taking office, Trump has sought broader security measures along the US-Mexico border.
In an interview with Fox News on January 31, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses revealed the possible actions of the US military in Mexico.
A few days later, in response to Hegses’ comments, Sinbaum argued that her country’s sovereignty was respected.
In early February, Sheinbaum agreed to mobilize 10,000 Mexican troops to support expansion efforts to combat cross-border trafficking. Trump agreed to delay the 25% tariff planned in Mexico as a well-intention show following the decision to deploy Sinbaum’s military.
By mid-February, the US State Department, along with El Salvador-based MS-13 and Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua, had designated six Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Terrorist designations provide more pathways for the US government to target the finances of these cross-border criminal organizations. They also increase the likelihood of military action.
Following the designation of terrorism, Sinbaum repeated her opposition to the US invasion of Mexican territory.
Mexican authorities worked with the United States in February to arrest Hambert Rivera, a suspected community leader at the Sinaloa Cartel.
The Mexican government also welcomed US military green berets to its country in February as part of a joint training exercise with the Mexican Marines.
