Mexico’s president says she rejected Trump’s plan to send US troops across the border

MEXICO CITY AP President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico reported on Saturday that U S President Donald Trump proposed sending American troops into Mexico to help her administration fight drug trafficking but that she rejected it Her remarks to supporters in eastern Mexico came in response to a Wall Street Journal article published the day before describing a tense phone call last month in which Trump reportedly pressured her to accept a bigger role for the U S military in combating drug cartels in Mexico He revealed How can we help you fight drug trafficking I propose that the United States military come in and help you And you know what I disclosed to him No President Trump She added Sovereignty is not for sale Sovereignty is loved and defended The White House did not at once respond to a request for comment on Sheinbaum s remarks The U S military presence has increased steadily along its southern perimeter with Mexico in contemporary months following Trump s order in January to increase the army s role in stemming the flow of settlers The U S Northern Command has surged troops and equipment to the perimeter increased manned surveillance flights to monitor fentanyl trafficking along the demarcation and sought expanded authority for U S Special Forces to work closely with Mexican forces conducting operations against cartels Trump designated a multitude of of the gangs and cartels smuggling drugs into the U S as foreign terrorist organizations on Feb restricting their movements and lending law enforcement more tools to act against them Related Articles Human rights body finds demarcation agents actions in death at California-Mexico limit constituted acts of torture California judge blocks Trump administration anti-money laundering affecting confines businesses Escaped California inmate arrested in police commander s killing in Tijuana Man sentenced for illegally trafficking baby spider monkeys across California-Mexico margin Manhunt underway for escaped killer from California who allegedly gunned down Gringo Hunter in Mexico But Sheinbaum s hardline stance Saturday signaled that U S pressure for unilateral military intervention would put her and Trump on a collision syllabus after months of cooperation on immigration and contract We can work together but you in your territory and us in ours Sheinbaum commented To a burst of applause she added We will never accept the presence of the United States military in our territory