Milley: Don’t Invade Mexico
The top U.S. general recommends military training and law enforcement to stem drug and migrant flows—not special operators and other forces.
KEVIN BARON | MARCH 31, 2023 04:00 PM ET
Watch Kevin Baron's interview with Gen. Mark Milley, part of Defense One's State of Defense series, here.
The U.S. military should not lead American counter-drug efforts in Mexico, nor operate against cartels there without the express consent of the Mexican government, said Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.
Republicans and conservative media pundits have seized on border security, often accusing the Biden administration of devoting insufficient attention and security forces to the issue. In recent Senate and House hearings about the president’s defense budget request, Milley and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin faced multiple questions from Republicans asking about the possibility of U.S. military intervention or for some greater role for troops in stopping the inbound flow of drugs, including fentanyl, and people.
President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination, has asked for “battle plans” to invade Mexico to “conduct specific military operations to destroy the cartels”, Rolling Stone reported this week. The article cited an internal Trump policy paper that says Mexico should be enlisted to help the U.S. with any counter-drug efforts, but says, “It is vital that Mexico not be led to believe that they have veto power to prevent the US from taking the actions necessary to secure its borders and people.”
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2023/03/milley-dont-invade-mexico/384678/
