Overview
- Speaking to reporters on Monday, President Trump said he would be “OK” with launching strikes or sending U.S. forces into Mexico to stop drug trafficking and declined to commit to acting only with Mexico’s consent.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated that no foreign troops will operate on Mexican soil, citing national sovereignty and past U.S. incursions, while welcoming information sharing.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington will not take unilateral military action in Mexico and will provide equipment, training and intelligence only if Mexico requests assistance.
- NBC previously reported, citing unnamed officials, that the White House was preparing an initial ground phase that could include drone strikes on cartel targets, a plan that has not been officially confirmed.
- The administration has designated several cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and carried out at least 20 maritime interdiction strikes since September that killed more than 80 people, and Trump also said he would be “proud” to hit cocaine factories in Colombia.