Mexico has said the United States military will not enter the country, after U.S. President Donald Trump directed the use of military force against some Latin American drug cartels.
Trump signed an executive order last week to authorise military operations in foreign countries and at sea against cartels the administration considers terrorist organisations, though U.S. officials have said these actions are not imminent.
"The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said.
“We co-operate, we collaborate, but there is not going to be an invasion. That is ruled out, absolutely ruled out.”
According to Sheinbaum, Mexico’s government had been told about Trump’s executive order, but said it did not involve the U.S. military operating in Mexican territory.
The U.S. expanded its militarised zones to nearly one third of the U.S.-Mexico border in July, leaving these areas under the supervision of nearby military bases. This has allowed around 7,600 U.S. soldiers to patrol the border, aiming to detain people crossing illegally
Mexico is also attempting to negotiate a lower tariff rate on its goods imported by the U.S. Trump has claimed that these tariffs were imposed partly to push Mexico to prevent drugs like fentanyl from entering the U.S.
Current rates include a 25% tariff on Mexico-made cars, 50% on steel, aluminium, and copper, and 25% on imports not covered by the existing U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement trade deal.
While Trump had initially said these tariffs would be raised from 1 August, the two countries agreed at the end of July that the U.S. would not do so for 90 days.
Sheinbaum met with Canadian cabinet officials in Mexico last week to discuss collaboration on investment and trade.
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