United States President Donald Trump has on Wednesday renewed threats to close the southern border along with the Mexican border and deploy additional “armed soldiers” to the area if Mexico fails to block the illegal movement of new caravans of migrants.
In a tweet, the US president wrote: “Mexico must apprehend the remainder or we will be forced to close that section of the border and call up the military.”
A very big Caravan of over 20,000 people started up through Mexico. It has been reduced in size by Mexico but is still coming. Mexico must apprehend the remainder or we will be forced to close that section of the Border & call up the Military. The Coyotes & Cartels have weapons!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2019
He added, “Mexico’s soldiers recently pulled guns on our national guard soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning.”
Mexico’s Soldiers recently pulled guns on our National Guard Soldiers, probably as a diversionary tactic for drug smugglers on the Border. Better not happen again! We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2019
According to ANI news reports, Trump’s remarks came in the wake of the April 13 incident in which two American armed personnel were interrupted by Mexican forces during processing a surveillance operation conduct on the American side of the US-Mexico border, CNN reported quoting US defence officials.
The officials said during the incident, Mexican soldiers pulled up their guns at those two US soldiers, setting aside both soldier’s sidearm and pulling them back to unmarked American vehicle. The official noted the other side troops were armed, what appeared to be the assault rifles.
Channel NewsAsia reported Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has stated the government would read and analyse the April 13 incident occurred at the border, take Trump’s remarks seriously, and act “it keeping with the law within the framework of our sovereignty”.
In Mexico city, Obrador told reporters, “We are not going to fall for any provocation,” adding, “The most important thing is to tell (Trump) we are not going to fight with the government of the United States. The most important thing is to say we want a relationship of mutual respect and cooperation for the sake of development.”
However, so far, it is unclear whether Trump was stressing over new US troops deployment or changes to troops’ way at the border or implementing any new rule.