Mexico is practically run by drug cartels, US President Donald Trump told reporters before leaving for Florida.
In response to a question about relations between the two countries, the US leader said he had suggested to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum “to get rid of the cartels“. “But for some reason she doesn't want to do it“, he said, adding that his Mexican counterpart “should not have said no“.
“I like her a lot, but she has to get rid of the cartels because the cartels, whether you like it or not, run Mexico. It shouldn't be like this," the US president said.
At a press conference on March 9, Sheinbaum said that the United States could provide significant assistance to Mexico in the fight against organized crime by cutting off channels for smuggling illegal weapons across the border and reducing drug use.
Trump regularly accuses Mexican authorities of insufficient cooperation in the fight against criminal groups and drug trafficking. He has repeatedly acknowledged the possibility of using the US armed forces to eliminate cartels and noted that Washington is ready to do whatever is necessary to protect its national security.