Her comments to her supporters in eastern Mexico followed an article in the Wall Street Journal published the day before, describing a telephone call set last month, during which Donald Trump would have put pressure on her to accept a more important role in the American army in the fight against drug cartels in Mexico.
“He said to me, ‘How can we help you fight drug trafficking?” I propose that the American army intervenes and helps you. ‘ And you know what I answered? ‘No, President Trump,’ she explained. Sovereignty is not sold. Sovereignty loves and defends itself. “
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for a comment on the words of President Sheinbaum. The American military presence has regularly increased along its southern border with Mexico in recent months, following the order given by Trump in January to strengthen the role of the army in the fight against migratory flow.
The northern command of the United States has deployed troops and equipment at the border, has strengthened inhabited surveillance flights to monitor fentanyl traffic along the border and asked that American special forces be more empowered to collaborate closely with Mexican forces carrying out operations against cartels.
-On February 19, Donald Trump described many gangs and cartels as a foreign terrorist organizations, bringing drugs to the United States, limiting their movements and providing the police with additional resources to fight them.
But the intransigent position of Ms. Sheinbaum on Saturday reported that the American pressure in favor of a unilateral military intervention would place her against Donald Trump after months of cooperation on immigration and trade.
“We can work together, but you on your territory and we on ours,” said Ms. Sheinbaum.
Under a salvo of applause, she added: “We will never accept the presence of the American army on our territory.”
