Key statements in Washington
Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States, stated that Claudia Sheinbaum’s government has shown a posture of greater collaboration compared to the previous administration.
“We have been impressed that they have been very cooperative, much more cooperative than the last administration, but they still believe in their sovereignty and we must respect that,” said the official.
During a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee, Mullin explained that he recently returned from Mexico City, where he spoke with the President and her cabinet about bilateral cooperation.
Thanks to the partnership with Mexico, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Homeland Security Task Force (HSTF) have achieved a record number of seizures of drugs, money and weapons, as well as the arrest of leaders of criminal organizations.
Mullin specified that Mexico’s northern border is divided into areas controlled by nine different cartels, which they call “plazas”, each under the command of bosses they have already identified and whom they are constantly searching for. He also noted that seizures have increased and the availability of illicit substances in American cities has decreased. Fentanyl deaths have decreased due to pressure from Donald Trump’s leadership in the fight against cartels.
Marco Rubio’s warning about drones
On the other hand, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, warned before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the risk of Mexican criminal groups using drones “against the interests” of the United States. He pointed out that they are currently already using them in disputes between themselves.
Rubio emphasized that the American Union no longer confronts these organizations only with words, but with actions and the use of military power.
“We have made it clear to every government in this hemisphere that the United States can be its best friend, or its most feared enemy. The choice is yours,” he concluded.
