Photo: AFP
Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, has officially and publicly confirmed that she has rejected an offer from President Trump for U.S. military assistance to Mexico to help fight violent drug trafficking cartels, which have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
Trump reportedly called Sheinbaum to offer assistance and asked, "How can we help you fight drug trafficking?" Sheinbaum responded by saying that she would never accept the presence of the U.S. Army inside Mexico.
She said, "We can collaborate. We can work together, but with you in your territory and us in ours. We can share information, but we will never accept the presence of the United States Army on our territory."
The United States has used CIA drones to conduct surveillance flights over Mexico since Trump took office. That has been done in coordination with the Mexican government.
The administration is still calling on Mexico to do more, however. White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly recently told Fox News Digital, "We will continue exploring ways to enhance our efforts across the region to dismantle these transnational criminal organizations."