These statements come a few days after President Trump said he is not “happy” with Mexico’s fight against drug trafficking, and indicated that he does not rule out an attack against the cartels on Mexican soil.

This controversy also comes amid Operation “Southern Spear,” which the Trump administration is carrying out to combat drug trafficking in Latin America, an argument used to justify destroying some 20 boats allegedly loaded with drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters, near Venezuela and Colombia, where around 80 people have died.