U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his support on Monday for taking strong actions against drug cartels and drug production in Mexico and Colombia. This comes after a series of operations targeting small boats in the Caribbean and Pacific as part of his intensified efforts against maritime drug trafficking. Trump has authorized more aggressive interdiction operations and granted expanded powers to U.S. forces to disable or sink vessels suspected of carrying drugs.
During an event in the Oval Office, Trump indicated his willingness to consider ground strikes in Mexico to combat drug trafficking, stating, “OK with me, whatever we have to do to stop drugs.” While he did not announce any direct military intervention, he later mentioned the possibility of targeting cocaine manufacturing facilities in Colombia, saying he would be proud to do so if necessary to save lives.
In contrast to Trump’s stance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently stated that there would be no military intervention in Mexico from the United States. Rubio emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries, mentioning that assistance could be provided in the form of equipment, training, and intelligence sharing if requested by Mexico.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has emphasized positive relations with the U.S., denied reports of potential unilateral military action by the U.S. in Mexico. Tensions have also risen between Trump and Colombian President Gustavo Petro over drug enforcement strategies, with the U.S. imposing sanctions on Petro for alleged failure to curb cocaine trafficking.
The U.S. has conducted around 20 lethal strikes against suspected drug vessels since September, predominantly in the Caribbean Sea but also in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in casualties. These actions have prompted concerns about their legality, with U.S. lawmakers and observers questioning the justification for the strikes.
Despite these developments, representatives for Sheinbaum and Petro have not yet commented on Trump’s recent statements.
