The United States is stepping up pressure on Mexico to allow U.S. military forces to conduct joint operations to dismantle fentanyl labs within the country, the New York Times reported Thursday, citing U.S. officials.
U.S. authorities want U.S. forces, whether Special Operations troops or CIA agents, to accompany Mexican soldiers on raids on suspected fentanyl labs, the report said, citing several unnamed officials.
US President Donald Trump told Fox News last week that cartels controlled Mexico and suggested the US could attack ground targets to combat them, one of a series of threats to deploy US military force against drug cartels.
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President Claudia Sheinbaum said this week that she ruled out a US military intervention to combat drug cartels after a “good conversation” with Trump about security and drug trafficking.
The US request to Mexico to use US forces was renewed after Washington forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a raid on January 3, the New York Times reported.
Sheinbaum has previously rejected offers of military action from Trump.
Reuters could not immediately verify the New York Times report. The White House and Mexico’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside normal business hours.
With information from Reuters
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