SAN DIEGO (Border Report) — On Friday, during her daily news conference, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum showed disdain for a statement made by Ronald Johnson, nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, where he said military intervention is possible against drug cartels on Mexican soil if the lives of U.S. citizens were at risk.
“We don’t agree,” said President Sheinbaum. “He said everything’s on the table, well no, not everything is on the table, nor on the chair, nor on the floor, nor anywhere, not that.”
During his confirmation hearing this week, Johnson was asked if the U.S. should take military action against cartels on Mexican soil, he responded by saying “any decision to take action against a cartel inside Mexico, our first desire would be that it be done in partnership with our Mexican partners.”
He went on to say, “I know that President Trump takes very seriously his responsibility to safeguard the lives of U.S. citizens and should there be a case where the lives of U.S. citizens are at risk I think all cards are on the table.”
It’s been widely reported the CIA has been flying unarmed surveillance drones over territory where cartels operate and make fentanyl, flights supported by the Mexican government.
But on Friday President Sheinbaum insisted Mexico will not accept “any violations of its sovereignty.”
“We collaborate within a framework of respect, we coordinate with each other, there is in fact very good coordination. There is very good coordination because there is respect between both countries, there is collaboration within the framework of our sovereignty,” she said. “If he (Johnson) is ratified by the Senate, there will be a good relationship with the ambassador, but, as we’ve said, Mexico is to be respected.”
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