Last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegses reportedly warned Mexican officials that the US military was ready to “one-sided action” against Mexican drug cartels if more is not done to stop the flow of fentanyl and immigration to the United States.
The Pentagon chief spoke in a January 31 call with Mexican military officials, urging them to deal with conspiracy between the country's government and violent criminal organizations, The Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
The appealing Mexican officials were sometimes “shocked and angry” by Hegses' comments, leaving the impression that it suggested that a US military strike could take place south of the border. Exit.
Readings of Hegses' call, released by the Pentagon earlier this month, noted that the Secretary of Defense “emphas emphasized that his top priority is protecting the United States and its citizens and securing tropical borders.”
“The secretary emphasized the importance of Mexican military continuing to disrupt cartel activities threatening the United States, and emphasized that Mexico will take steps to curb illegal migration to the United States,” the read continued. “On both calls, our secretary and his Mexican counterpart reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation between our troops.”
Hegseth previously refused to rule out US military actions against Mexican drug cartels.
“All options are on the table,” he said in an interview with “Fox & Friends” when asked if the military was allowed to carry out operations within Mexico after President Trump ordered the detective cartel to be designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
The statement was the same day as the Mexican military's call with brass.
However, Hegseth argued that it ultimately depends on the president as to how to deal with drug cartels.
Trump, 78, warned Mexico and Canada on Thursday that the US would move ahead and impose a 25% tariff on imports from both countries on March 4th, “as planned” as a result of a failed, failed repression of drug smuggling.
“Drugs are still poured into our country at very high, unacceptable levels from Mexico and Canada,” Trump writes of the true society.
On the same day as the latest threat, the Mexican government announced it had transferred 29 cartel members to the United States for criminal prosecution, including alleged murderers of drug enforcement agents.
The Pentagon and the Mexican Embassy did not immediately respond to requests for mail for comments.
