By Evaristo Lara
President Donald Trump once again expressed his disagreement with the strategy implemented by the Mexican government to handle the drug issue. and he anticipated that, if he does not do his job correctly, Washington will do it for him.
“The entry of drugs by sea has decreased 97%, and now we have launched the land force, which is much simpler. “You will hear some complaints from people in Mexico and other places, but if they are not going to do their job, we will,” he said. during an event held at the White House.
The US president has repeatedly mentioned the possibility that the US agencies in charge of confronting organizations dedicated to drug trafficking intervene in Mexican territory to combat the cartels, but Claudia Sheinbaum, president of Mexicoopposes considering it a violation of sovereignty.
However, from the perspective of the 79-year-old Republican, putting an end to drug trafficking is among the priorities of his second term, as he recognizes that in the United States there is a health crisis linked to drug use.
Trump’s controversial statement comes at a tense moment for diplomatic relations with Mexico, as at least a couple of events linked to drug trafficking have once again occupied the front pages of the news as they are related to both countries.
The first arises from the death of two agents of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) who a couple of weeks ago participated in an operation carried out in the Sierra Madre Occidental, in the State of Chihuahua, which lacked the consent of the Mexican authorities.
The second incident derives from the accusations issued by a United States federal court against Rubén Rocha Moya, former governor of Sinaloa, by linking him to the cartel run by the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, which from the perspective of the president of Mexico must first be supported with evidence before agreeing to extradite him to answer to the US authorities.
All this arises prior to the negotiations for the review of the T-MEC (Treaty between Mexico, the United States and Canada), which formally start in July and where Trump could raise tariffs on exports from his southern neighbor if he refuses or inadequately addresses the drug trafficking problem.
Keep reading:
• Why US drug trafficking accusations against the governor of Sinaloa are a blow to Claudia Sheinbaum
• Who is Rubén Rocha, the governor of Sinaloa and historical ally of AMLO whom the US accuses of collaborating with “Los Chapitos”
• Doubts about the role of the US in the fight against drug trafficking after the death of two CIA agents in Mexico
