Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly announced her decision to decline U.S. military support offered by President Donald Trump, which aimed to assist in combating drug trafficking and violent cartels in Mexico.
Responding to a Wall Street Journal report Friday that detailed the offer, Sheinbaum confirmed “it’s true.”
Trump reportedly called Sheinbaum and asked, “How can we help you fight drug trafficking?”
She told Trump the country will “never accept” the presence of the U.S. Army in its territory.
Nevertheless, Kelly emphasized the need for Mexico to increase its efforts to safeguard Americans from perilous foreign terrorist groups and the “drugs and violence they bring into communities on both sides of the border.”
“We remain committed to finding ways to strengthen our regional efforts to dismantle these transnational criminal organizations,” she wrote. “We will make America safe again.”
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the U.S. Army is not welcome in Mexico. (AP Images)
The Heritage Foundation, a top conservative group, released a report in January detailing how Trump could use the military to confront the border crisis.
It argued that Mexican cartels are continuing to grow, illegal immigration and narcotics smuggling have accelerated and U.S.-Mexico security cooperation has deteriorated.
However, the report noted direct military action against cartels should be a “last resort,” preferring joint military action with Mexican coordination, Fox News Digital previously reported.
“In the appropriate context, unilateral U.S. military action may be employed to disrupt cartel activity and prompt cooperation from a resistant Mexican government,” the group wrote.
The foundation claimed Mexico was unlikely to change its stance when Sheinbaum was elected despite the escalating threat from cartels.
Fox News Digital’s Adam Shaw and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
