Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about her 45-minute phone call with US President Donald Trump where he made the offer to ‘help’ Mexico tackle drug trafficking by dispatching US Troops to the country. She explained why she refused as her response was a firm ‘no’.
Relations have been tense between the two
The relations between the US President and the President of Mexico have certainly been tense following Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico and the high tariffs he issued on the country.
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But the two had a call
Despite these tensions, on April 16, Trump and Sheinbaum had a 45-minute conversation over the phone.
On social media, Sheinbaum described the call as ‘very positive’ despite Trump’s suggestion to dispatch US troops to her country as a way to battle Mexican drug cartels.
She spoke about the phone call publicly
Sheinbaum spoke at a university event near Mexico City, on Saturday, May 3, where she reflected on her call with Trump.
She said, “In one of the calls, Trump said, ‘How can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the US Army come in to help you’.”
Her response was scathing
“And you know what I told him? ‘No, President Trump, the territory is sacrosanct, sovereignty is sacrosanct, sovereignty is not for sale, sovereignty is loved and defended’,” Sheinbaum went on.
She doubled down on her refusal, adding, “We will never accept the presence of the United States military in our territory.”
She’s happy to work together from afar instead
Sheinbaum resolved, “We can work together, but you in your territory and us in ours.”
Later that same day, White House National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt also spoke about the phone conversation.
Hewitt said the two presidents were working together
Addressing the conversation, Hewitt said Trump and Sheinbaum are working together “to achieve the most secure southwest border in history.”
But he also added, “Dangerous Foreign Terrorist Organizations, however, continue to threaten our shared security and the drugs and crime they spread threaten American communities across the country.”
Hewitt pointed out the cartels
Hewitt went on, “The President has been crystal clear that Mexico must do more to combat these gangs and cartels and the United States stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries.”
