Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced today that she plans to seek a formal meeting with U.S. officials following recent strikes by American forces targeting alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Pacific Ocean.
The meeting, Sheinbaum said, will involve Mexico’s Foreign Minister Juan Ramon De la Fuente, Navy officials, and the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson. The president has been vocal in her criticism of these operations, reiterating her position Tuesday: “We want international agreements to be respected, and we do not agree with these attacks.”
The latest military action occurred Monday night. According to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, American forces launched three lethal strikes against four vessels accused of narcotics trafficking by Designated Terrorist Organizations in the Eastern Pacific. The strikes resulted in 14 fatalities.
In a social media statement, Secretary Hegseth detailed that the U.S. Southern Command carried out the attacks and that Search and Rescue protocols were immediately initiated. Mexican authorities accepted responsibility for coordinating rescue efforts for survivors.
Since the campaign began in September, at least 57 people have been killed in U.S. strikes throughout the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to bolster its military presence off the coast of Venezuela amid mounting tensions with President Nicolas Maduro’s government. On Monday, B-1B bombers flew near Venezuelan airspace, repeating maneuvers from the previous week that contradicted former President Donald Trump’s earlier denials of such flights.
The B-1B, a supersonic heavy bomber capable of deploying cruise missiles and precision-guided weapons, joins a growing array of U.S. military assets in the area. This buildup includes eight warships, maritime patrol aircraft, drones, F-35 fighter jets, and a submarine, with the U.S. also sending its largest aircraft carrier to the region.
As diplomatic discussions are sought to address the recent strikes, the situation remains tense in this strategically critical part of the world.
We will keep you updated on this developing story. For now, that’s the latest on U.S.-Mexico relations here at SNEWS TV.
Reported by Kathy Moore.
