Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: A squadron of aircraft was heard flying over several Iraqi cities, likely Iranian drones
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The US President is currently chairing a National Security Council meeting
Islamic endowments in occupied al-Quds: Occupation forces arrested two Al-Aqsa guards and raided the mosque's prayer halls
Iranian state TV: Iranian drones on their way to the occupied territories
IRGC Chief of Staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi: The Iranian nation has proven its resolve, never surrendering in the face of aggression
IRGC spokesperson: This operation will continue and will destabilize the occupation regime
IRGC spokesperson: The 19th wave of Operation True Promise 3 put the Israeli regime's overwhelmed defense system on alert
Al Mayadeen correspondent in Iran: A new wave of Iranian missiles has been launched toward the occupied Palestinian territories.
Yemeni Armed Forces: The battle is the battle of the entire Ummah and for its salvation.
Yemeni Armed Forces: We cannot tolerate any US attack or aggression in support of the Israeli enemy against Iran because it means the confiscation of the freedom, independence, and dignity of our nation.

GOP military action in Mexico against drug cartels prompts warnings

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News Websites
  • 25 Aug 2023 23:33
4 Min Read

Republican Presidential candidates increasingly talk about using military action inside Mexico to take out drug gangs.

  • x
  • GOP talk of military action has some worried attack being
    The border wall gap at the Morelos Dam between the US and Mexico in Yuma, Arizona on May 31, 2022. (AP)

Rising Republican support for the United States adopting unilateral military action in Mexico against drug gangs is scaring individuals on both sides of the border who are concerned that talk of military action may be getting normalized.

The Republican presidential primary debate on Wednesday included near-unanimous agreement on the concept of deploying American troops to combat drug smuggling and migration.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis alluded to sending US forces into Mexico in order to "take out fentanyl labs, to take out drug cartel operations," while responding to Martha MacCallum of Fox News. DeSantis stated that he would do it on "day one."

Last January,  the North American summit, dubbed the "three amigos" summit, discussed the heavy flow of fentanyl across the US border which killed more than 100,000 people in 2021 alone.

The GOP has recently embraced an eagerness to the idea, with former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, who previously expressed support for similar action.

Former President Trump's aggressive attitude to the bilateral relationship has paved the path for the concept, and according to former Defense Secretary Mark Esper's biography "A Sacred Oath," as president, he sought approval from the Pentagon to send missiles into Mexico.

Read more: Combating fentanyl needs global strategy similar to COVID's: US envoy

According to John Negroponte, the US' former permanent representative to the UN and former ambassador to Mexico, any action that is "unilateral by the United States vis-a-vis Mexico", particularly by armed officers, would be counterproductive to relations between the two countries.

Related News

"Israel" eyes Fordow strike as Iran talks deadline looms: Reuters

Trump, Erdogan made covert attempts to hold talks with Iran: Axios

Negroponte added that as the largest trading partner to the US, and due to the massive border shared between the two, such actions would be "ill-advised."

The US' last significant military involvement in Mexico ended in 1917 when Mexico's revolution reached its conclusion. The "punitive expedition," directed by Gen. John Pershing, saw 10,000 US fighters sent to northern Mexico over the course of a year.

In 1992, the North American Free Trade Agreement was signed after decades of stability in Mexico.

Military intervention could be a 'setback' to detail the relationship

A Mexican official told The Hill that the process could be destroyed if any military intervention were to occur and be a "setback" that would derail the relationship.

Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson spoke out against the unilateral deployment of US military or police action in Mexico on Wednesday, citing his experience as the chief of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and calling on Lopez Obrador to be helpful, claiming that the actions against the cartel cannot work unless economic pressure is used.

In March, López Obrador stated that the proposal threatened Mexican sovereignty, noting that the country will not "permit any foreign government to intervene in our territory, much less than a government’s armed forces intervene."

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson (D), a global crisis negotiator who served as the US' permanent representative to the UN under Clinton, cautioned that military intervention in Mexico would both backfire and fail to address the underlying concerns.

Richardson added "It shows the nativist shift of the Republican Party from internationalism to irresponsible diplomacy. It would be a disaster if there were any military action against Mexico — a foreign policy disaster for the United States."

"Plus, it makes no sense to resolve the problem," Richardson added.

  • US-Mexico Border
  • GOP
  • United States
  • Mexico
  • US President Joe Biden

Most Read

Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Iran’s Bavar-373 air defense system on display during a military drill (Mehr News Agency)
Politics

Iran intercepts Israeli drones near Tehran, multiple cities

The Israeli Iron Dome air defense system fires to intercept missiles during an Iranian attack over Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran warns aid to 'Israel' will be treated as aggression

US President Donald Trump arrives to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Friday, June 20, 2025, en route to Montclair, New Jersey (AP)
Politics

Trump, Erdogan made covert attempts to hold talks with Iran: Axios

Ansar Allah supporters surround a giant Iranian flag during an anti-US and anti-'Israel' weekly rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 20, 2025 (AP)
Politics

US ships in Red Sea will be targeted if US attacks Iran: YAF

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS