Trump Increases Pressure on Mexico over Cartel Fight

President Donald Trump has intensified his demands on Mexico, stating that if the Mexican government does not confront the cartels decisively, the U.S. will take action. He mentioned the possibility of deploying additional ground troops, moving beyond current efforts that involve targeting cartel vessels at sea.

This assertion came during a speech this week, where Trump emphasized the seriousness of his administration’s commitment to combatting the cartels. “If they (Mexico) are not going to do the job, we are going to do the job,” he declared, highlighting the U.S. stance on the issue.

In his address, Trump claimed that previous military interventions against cartel ships led to a remarkable 97 percent reduction in maritime smuggling. He also indicated a willingness to use ground troops against these criminal organizations, raising concerns in Mexico.

These remarks have caused considerable unrest in Mexico, especially since President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly opposes the presence of U.S. military forces on Mexican soil. Just a day prior, Sheinbaum delivered a speech rich in nationalist sentiment, asserting that Mexicans value their freedom and will resist foreign intervention.

The tensions come at a time when the U.S. continues to urge Mexico to take a more aggressive approach against drug cartels. Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted a sitting governor along with nine of his aides on charges related to drug trafficking and weapons, alleging ties to the Sinaloa cartel. Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, a member of Mexico’s ruling party and an ally of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has been resistant to U.S. demands for his arrest and extradition.

This case against Rocha Moya, along with other potential cases that the U.S. may announce, could significantly impact Mexico’s ruling party, Morena, especially given its alleged connections to drug cartels that it purportedly protects for financial and political gain.