Mexico Rejects U.S. Strikes Against Cartels

MEXICO CITY – It may be “OK” with President Trump, but Mexico rejects any U.S.strikes against cartels in its territory.

That was the message reiterated Tuesday by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has repeatedly said that her nation would not accept U.S. attacks or troops on Mexican soil.

“It’s not going to happen,” Sheinbaum told reporters at her daily news conference.”We cannot permit an intervention.”

Mexican authorities seem to have been convinced that the matter was settled, especially after Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared last week that U.S.-Mexico anti-drug cooperation was at “an all-time high,” adding: “We’re not going to take unilateral action or go in and send American forces into Mexico.”

But the incendiary issue flared again this week as Trump made some provocative, off-the-cuff remarks.

“Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs?” Trump said Monday, repeating a journalist’s question at the Oval Office. “It’s OK with me.”

Trump didn’t unveil any specific plans for a U.S. attack. But he clearly contradicted his top diplomat’s upbeat assertions that Washington was pleased with Mexico’s anti-drug efforts.

“Let me just put it this way: I am not happy with Mexico,” Trump said. “OK?”

Trump’s comments flashed instantly on news channels, websites and social media platforms in Mexico, once again raising the specter of a unilateral, potentially destabilizing U.S. assault south of the border.

“Disgusted with Mexico,” read the front-page headline in El Diario de Yucatán newspaper, citing Trump’s displeasure.

On Tuesday,Sheinbaum moved to quash the concern,repeating her oft-stated mantra: “Collaboration and coordination without subordination.”

The Mexican leader said she had made the point repeatedly in telephone calls with Trump, with whom she appears to have a collegial relationship, despite the political gulf between the two: Sheinbaum a lifelong leftist and scientist, and trump, a conservative real-estate baron-turned-politician.

The Mexican president says that she has repeatedly rejected Trump’s offer to send U.S. troops south to help fight drug traffickers.

“I have told him on every occasion that we can collaborate, that [the United States] can help us with details that they have, but that we operate in our territory,” Sheinbaum said. “That we don’t accept an intervention from any foreign government.”

Trump has long seemed fixated on the notion of attacking cartels in Mexico. During his first term, Trump suggested to his then-Defense secretary, Mark T. Esper, “We could