Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly warned Mexican officials last month that the US military was ready to take “unilateral action” against Mexico’s drug cartels if more isn’t done to stem the flow of fentanyl and migrants into the US.
The Pentagon chief made the remark during a Jan. 31 call with top Mexican military officials, while urging them to address collusion between their country’s government and violent criminal organizations, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
Mexican officials on the call were “shocked and angered” by Hegseth’s comments, and were left with the impression that he was suggesting US military strikes could take place south of the border, according to the outlet.
A readout of Hegseth’s call released by the Pentagon earlier this month notes that the defense secretary “underscored that his top priority is to safeguard the United States and its citizens, to include securing the southern border.”
“The Secretary highlighted the importance of Mexico’s armed forces continuing to disrupt cartel activities that threaten the United States, and for Mexico to continue taking steps to curb illegal migration into the United States,” the readout continued. “In both calls, the Secretary and his Mexican counterparts reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation between our militaries.”
Hegseth has previously refused to rule out US military action against Mexican drug cartels.
“All options will be on the table,” he said during a “Fox & Friends” interview when asked if the military is permitted to conduct operations inside Mexico after President Trump ordered criminal cartels to be designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
That remark was on the same day as his call with Mexico’s military brass.
Hegseth, however, insisted that it would ultimately be up to the president on how to deal with the drug cartels.
Trump, 78, warned Mexico and Canada on Thursday that the US will go ahead and impose 25% tariffs on imports from both countries “as scheduled” on March 4 as a result of their failure to adequately crackdown on drug smuggling.
“Drugs are still pouring into our Country from Mexico and Canada at very high and unacceptable levels,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
On the same day as the latest threat, the Mexican government announced that it had transferred 29 cartel members, including the suspected killer of a Drug Enforcement Agency agent, to the US for criminal prosecution.
The Pentagon and the Mexican Embassy did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
