WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday opened the door to launching US attacks in Mexico, a move that would mark a dramatic escalation in his administration’s fight against drug cartels.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump responded to a question about the possibility of attacking Mexico or sending U.S. troops or personnel to the country by saying that “that would be fine with me.”
“Would you launch attacks in Mexico to stop the drugs? That’s fine with me, whatever we have to do to stop the drugs. Mexico is… look, I looked at Mexico City over the weekend. There are big problems there,” Trump said, after being asked if he was considering such action.
When asked if he would carry out attacks only with Mexico’s permission, Trump said he “wouldn’t answer that question.” He added that he has been talking to the country and added that Mexico knows “how I am.”
“We’ve stopped the waterways, but we know every route. We know every route, we know the addresses of every drug dealer,” Trump said. “We know their address, we know their front door. We know everything about every one of them. They’re killing our people. That’s like a war. Would you do it? I’d be proud to do it.”
The Mexican Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
NBC News reported this month that the Trump administration has begun planning a new campaign in which the United States would send American troops and intelligence officers to Mexico to attack drug cartels. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that no US military action will occur in Mexico without her permission.
In the middle of answering the question about Mexico, Trump pivoted to talk about Colombia, saying he would be “proud” to dismantle cocaine factories in the country.
“We don’t have anyone coming into our southern border, but we know exactly how their stuff gets here. How they get the drugs here. Fentanyl, cocaine,” Trump said. “Colombia has cocaine factories, where cocaine is produced. Would you tear down those factories? I would be proud to do it, personally.”
The Colombian Embassy in Washington had no immediate comment on Trump’s comments.
The Trump administration has launched nearly two dozen attacks against vessels allegedly transporting narcotics in the region and near Venezuela, killing more than 80 people, including Colombian citizens.
The attacks led leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro to denounce the Trump administration’s actions and a subsequent diplomatic rift between Petro and Trump. Trump has called Petro a “narco leader” and the United States took the unusual step of sanctioning the Colombian president.
Trump said Sunday that he was considering talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro amid the United States’ decision to increase pressure in the region, including by designating the Cartel of the Suns, which the administration says is led by Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization.
Asked in the Oval Office whether he would rule out troop presence in Venezuela, Trump said no on Monday.
“I’m not ruling anything out, we just have to take care of Venezuela,” he said.
