Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned the Mexican government the US is prepared to take “unilateral action” against the cartels if more isn’t done to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl and illegal migrants into the US.
Secretary Hegseth issued the warning during a call with top Mexican military officials on 31 January.
He told the officials the US would act alone if the Mexican government didn’t do more to reduce the number of illegal immigrants crossing the border and the quantity of fentanyl. He also called on the government to stamp out collusion with the cartels.
Mexican officials were reportedly “shocked and angered” by Hegseth’s comments, especially the implication that military strikes could take place on Mexican territory.
The Pentagon released a summary of Hegseth’s call and noted that the Defense Secretary “underscored that his top priority is to safeguard the United States and its citizens, to include securing the southern border.”
“The Secretary highlighted the importance of Mexico’s armed forces continuing to disrupt cartel activities that threaten the United States, and for Mexico to continue taking steps to curb illegal migration into the United States,” the readout continued. “In both calls, the Secretary and his Mexican counterparts reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation between our militaries.”
In an interview with Fox and Friends in January, Hegseth said “all options will be on the table.”
The US State Department has now officially designated eight Latin American cartels, including Mexico’s Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generación cartels, as terrorist organizations.
This new designation will allow the US government to target these organizations more effectively, including prosecuting individuals involved with them and undertaking intelligence-gathering and even military strikes against them.
In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recently declared that she intended to change the constitution to put the Mexican cartels beyond the reach of the US military.
According to proposals from President Sheinbaum, Articles 19 and 40 of the constitution would be changed to prevent investigations or military actions by foreign entities without the express permission of the Mexican government.
“What we want to make clear in the face of this designation is that we do not negotiate sovereignty,” Sheinbaum said.
“This cannot be an opportunity on the part of the United States to invade our sovereignty.”
”So, they can name it whatever they want, but with Mexico, it is collaboration and coordination, never subordination, not interference, and much less invasion.”