U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his support on Monday for taking strong actions against drug cartels and the production of narcotics in Mexico and Colombia, signaling a tough stance in the region following recent attacks on small boats in the Caribbean and Pacific oceans.
Trump has ramped up efforts to combat maritime drug trafficking by authorizing more aggressive interdiction operations and granting expanded authority to U.S. forces to disable or sink vessels suspected of carrying drugs.
During an event in the Oval Office, Trump indicated his willingness for ground strikes in Mexico to combat drug trafficking, stating, “OK with me, whatever we have to do to stop drugs.”
While refraining from announcing direct U.S. military involvement, he later suggested the possibility of targeting cocaine laboratories in Colombia, saying, “Would I knock out those factories? I would be proud to do it personally. I didn’t say I’m doing it, but I would be proud to do it because we’re going to save millions of lives.”
Contrasting Trump’s statements, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently emphasized that there would be no U.S. military intervention in Mexico, highlighting the strong cooperation between the two countries.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has emphasized positive relations with the Trump administration, dismissed reports earlier this month about potential unilateral U.S. military action in Mexico.
Tensions have risen between the U.S. and Colombia, with President Gustavo Petro and Trump engaging in verbal sparring over drug enforcement strategies. In response to U.S. sanctions imposed in October, Petro ordered Colombian security forces to halt intelligence sharing with U.S. agencies until boat attacks in the Caribbean cease.
The U.S. has carried out about 20 lethal strikes against suspected drug vessels since September, primarily in the Caribbean Sea and some in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulting in the deaths of at least 80 individuals. These operations have sparked concerns about their legality, with inquiries raised by U.S. lawmakers and observers.
Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, acknowledged that it was up to U.S. authorities to determine the legality of the strikes when questioned about the matter earlier this month.
Spokespersons for Sheinbaum and Petro did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Trump’s statements made on Monday.