US Secretary of Defence Pete Hughes, during a telephone conversation with Mexican officials on 31 January, said that Washington was ready to take “unilateral action” if Mexico did not step up its fight against drug cartels. This was reported by The Wall Street Journal.
This statement caused shock and outrage among Mexican representatives, who took it as a possibility of a US military operation inside the country. The situation was further exacerbated when Hughes repeated this message during a public speech at the US-Mexico border.
The US Department of Defence declined to comment on the words of its chief.
Amid rising tensions, a Mexican delegation of several ministers arrived in Washington on Thursday. They met with Ghegseth and other US officials to present the measures the government is taking to combat the fentanyl trade. Recent steps include the extradition of 29 drug cartel leaders to the United States.
Relations between the two countries are becoming increasingly tense, and Washington appears to be willing to take radical measures. Whether it will come to a military operation remains an open question.
