In an interview broadcast this Thursday night on the Fox News network, U.S. President Donald Trump indicated that his administration is preparing to launch ground attacks against the drug cartels that, in his view, "control Mexico", without offering specific details about dates, targets, or the legal authorization behind this new phase of his offensive.
Trump maintained that the decision is part of an intensification of actions against drug trafficking, after weeks of maritime operations in the Pacific and the Caribbean aimed at dismantling drug transportation routes.
"We are now going to start attacking the cartels on the ground. The cartels are controlling Mexico", stated the president, holding these organizations responsible for what he described as "a tragedy" that causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year in the United States attributable to drug use.
The president's statements triggered a strong reaction in diplomatic and political circles. The Mexican government, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, emphatically rejected any unilateral military intervention on its territory, reaffirming the country's sovereignty and stressing that cooperation on security matters must respect the principles of non-intervention.
Washington's stance represents a significant expansion of Trump's rhetoric and policies against organized crime in the region. In recent months, the White House has stepped up its campaign against drug trafficking with bombings of alleged "narcolanchas" on the high seas and other operations that, according to official reports, have resulted in the deaths of more than one hundred people linked to drug trafficking networks.
International analysts warn that a possible deployment of U.S. forces on Mexican territory would be a serious military escalation, with major implications for bilateral relations between the two countries and regional stability.
Unlike operations in international waters, which have some backing in maritime interdiction legislation, ground actions in Mexico would require the explicit consent of the Mexican government or an extraordinary legal framework, something that has not yet been granted by Mexico City.
Meanwhile, the White House defended Trump's statements, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt backing the president's description of the cartels' influence in Mexico and emphasizing that the fight against drug trafficking is a national security priority.
