Sheinbaum says she rejected Trump's offer to send troops to Mexico

(Patria) - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated yesterday that US President Donald Trump proposed sending US troops to Mexico to fight drug trafficking, but she said she rejected the offer because "sovereignty is not for sale", Reuters reported.

Her comments came in response to questions about a Wall Street Journal report, published on May 2, which stated that Trump is pressuring Mexico to allow greater US military involvement against drug cartels and to combat drug trafficking across the shared border.

- In one of the calls, (Trump) said: 'How can we help you fight drug trafficking? I propose that the US military come to help you'.

And you know what I told him? No, President Trump, the territory is sacred, sovereignty is sacred, sovereignty is not for sale, sovereignty is loved and defended - Sheinbaum said.

She added that while the two countries can cooperate, "we will never accept the presence of the US military on our territory".

A spokesperson for the US National Security Council (NSC) said, in response to Reuters' request for comment, that Trump was "crystal clear that Mexico must do more to combat these gangs and cartels and that the US is ready to help and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries".

He added that Trump had worked closely with Sheinbaum to achieve "the most secure southwest border in history", however, "dangerous foreign terrorist organizations continue to threaten our shared security, and the drugs and crime they spread threaten American communities across the country".

Trump has publicly stated that the US will take unilateral military action if Mexico fails to dismantle drug cartels. The two leaders have had several calls in recent months to discuss security issues, trade, and immigration.

Sheinbaum further explained that during one of the calls, she asked Trump for help in preventing weapons from entering Mexico from the United States, which fuels violence and human trafficking.

- We can cooperate, we can work together, but you can do it in your territory, we can do it in ours - Sheinbaum said.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday that tensions between the two leaders escalated towards the end of a phone call on April 16 when Trump insisted that US armed forces take the lead in fighting Mexican drug gangs that produce and smuggle fentanyl into the US.

In February, the US designated the Sinaloa cartel and other Mexican drug cartels as global terrorist organizations, and some analysts warn that this could be a stepping stone for military action.

US aerial surveillance of Mexican drug cartels has increased as part of intelligence-gathering efforts to determine how best to counter their activities.

Sheinbaum then proposed a constitutional reform aimed at adding protection for Mexico's national sovereignty.