WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President Donald Trump on Sunday said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected his proposal to send U.S. troops to Mexico to help thwart the illegal drug trade because she is fearful of the country's powerful cartels.
The comments by Trump came a day after Sheinbaum confirmed that in a call last month to accept a bigger role for the U.S. military in combating drug cartels in Mexico.
Trump said it was 鈥渢rue鈥 that he proposed sending the troops to Mexico and lashed into Sheinbaum for dismissing the idea.
鈥淲ell she's so afraid of the cartels she can鈥檛 walk, so you know that鈥檚 the reason," Trump said in comments to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday. "And I think she鈥檚 a lovely woman. The president of Mexico is a lovely woman, but she is so afraid of the cartels that she can鈥檛 even think straight.鈥
The U.S. military presence along the southern border with Mexico has increased steadily in recent months, following Trump鈥檚 order in January to increase the army鈥檚 role in stemming the flow of migrants.
The U.S. Northern Command has , increased manned surveillance flights to monitor fentanyl trafficking along the border and sought expanded authority for U.S. Special Forces to work closely with Mexican forces conducting operations against cartels.
But Sheinbaum said that U.S. troops operating inside Mexico was going too far.
鈥淗e said, 鈥楬ow can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the United States military come in and help you.鈥 And you know what I said to him? 鈥楴o, President Trump,鈥欌 she said on Saturday. 鈥淪overeignty is not for sale. Sovereignty is loved and defended.鈥
She added that she told Trump their two countries 鈥渃an work together, but you in your territory and us in ours.鈥
Trump in February as 鈥渇oreign terrorist organizations鈥 many gangs and cartels smuggling drugs into the U.S. restricting their movements and lending law enforcement more resources to act against them.
But Sheinbaum鈥檚 stance 鈥 and Trump's response 鈥 suggest that U.S. pressure for unilateral military intervention could create tension between the two leaders on immigration and trade in the early going of Trump's second term.
Trump said the U.S. military is needed to stem the scourge of fentanyl in the United States.
鈥淭hey are bad news,鈥 Trump said of the cartels. 鈥淚f Mexico wanted help with the cartels we would be honored to go in and do it. I told her that. I would be honored to go in and do it. The cartels are trying to destroy our country.鈥
The White House has also linked its efforts to reduce the flow of fentanyl to Trump鈥檚 , saying he wants to hold Mexico, Canada, and China accountable for stemming the flow of the drug into the U.S.
