President Donald Trump said the United States will take direct action against Mexican drug cartels, claiming they are “running Mexico” and that drugs crossing the border kill about 300,000 Americans each year. He said the US will start acting on the ground, not just at the border, and added that Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is cooperating but cannot fully control the cartels.
Trump’s Strong Words and the Claim That Cartels Control Mexico
President Trump said the drug cartels are “running Mexico” and have pushed the country into a serious crisis. He said these groups are not only selling drugs but also controlling regions, spreading violence, and weakening the Mexican government.
According to Trump, about 300,000 people in the United States die every year because of drugs, many of them coming from across the southern border, including fentanyl. He argued that this heavy human cost is the reason the US must take direct action and that normal methods have already failed.
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Trump has made similar claims before and during his first term accused Mexico of not doing enough, supporting a border wall. Now, in his second term, he says the US will not only defend its border but will also go after the cartels directly, treating the issue as a matter of national security.
The Latin America Focus and the Venezuela Operation
Trump’s comments about Mexico come after recent developments in Latin America, especially what he described as the “Venezuela operation” and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
Trump is using these events as examples to show that the United States is ready to take strong action in the region whenever it believes its interests are at risk, even as people continue to discuss the full details.
People close to the situation say Trump views Latin America and the Western Hemisphere as a key area of US influence. This thinking comes from a long-standing belief that the region is closely linked to US security and stability. In recent days, Trump has spoken more often about protecting American lives from the effects of drugs and crime coming from abroad.
Trump also recently spoke with Colombian President Gustavo Petro. For many years, Colombia has worked closely with the United States in the fight against drug trafficking, and this conversation shows that Trump is focusing not only on Mexico but on the wider drug problem across Latin America.
In the past, powerful drug groups have troubled countries such as Colombia, Mexico, and Brazil by using violence, threatening officials, and sometimes controlling entire areas. By linking Venezuela and Mexico, Trump is making it clear that he sees these problems as connected and believes authorities must deal with them firmly.
Mexico, President Sheinbaum, and the Impact on US-Mexico Relations
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has become an important part of this story after Donald Trump said she is cooperating with the United States but cannot fully control the powerful drug cartels. This is a serious claim because it suggests that the Mexican government does not have complete control over its own territory.
For many years, Mexico has struggled to deal with cartel violence and drug trafficking. Different governments have tried many methods, including using the army and police to go after cartel leaders. While there have been some successes, the problem has never fully gone away.
Trump’s statement that the United States could carry out land actions against cartels inside Mexico is very sensitive. The US and Mexico share a long border and very close economic and social ties. Millions of people cross between the two countries every day, and a huge amount of trade depends on this relationship.
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Because of this, any talk of direct US action inside Mexico raises concerns about sovereignty and international law. Even though Trump says Mexico is cooperating, his strong words could still increase tension between the two governments.
Political experts and reporters say the situation will be watched closely. For now, it is clear that Mexico and the fight against drug cartels are at the center of Trump’s international focus.