President Donald Trump suggested potential future actions during a phone call with Fox News on March 9, 2024, shortly after an unprecedented attack on Venezuela. This military operation resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, marking a significant escalation in U.S. foreign policy. Trump described watching the events unfold from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, likening the experience to “watching a television show.”
During his appearance on the morning talk show “Fox & Friends,” Trump was questioned about whether the military action in Venezuela was intended to convey a message to Mexico regarding drug trafficking. His response hinted at a possible U.S. intervention in Mexico, indicating that the drug cartels wield significant power in the country.
“It wasn’t meant to be [a message to Mexico], and we’re very friendly with [Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum]; she’s a good woman, but the cartels are running Mexico, she’s not running Mexico,” Trump stated. He expressed concern over the escalating drug crisis, attributing the loss of approximately 300,000 lives to drug-related incidents, which he claimed are linked to trafficking across the Southern Border.
The former president’s remarks reflect a growing frustration with the situation in Mexico. “We could be politically correct and be nice, but no, she’s very frightened of the cartels,” Trump continued. “I’ve asked her numerous times: ‘would you like us to take out the cartels?’ – ‘no, no, no Mr. President, please,’ so we have to do something.”
As the U.S. grapples with its approach to foreign policy in the region, Trump’s comments raise questions about the potential for further military action. The implications of his administration’s recent moves could lead to a significant shift in relationships with neighboring countries and impact domestic drug enforcement policies.
In the aftermath of the attack on Venezuela, the dynamics of U.S.-Mexico relations could be entering a new phase. With Trump’s administration poised to take a firmer stance against drug cartels, it remains to be seen how this will affect both nations moving forward.
