Trump says sending 'armed soldiers' to US-Mexico border

Published April 24, 2019
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018. —AFP
US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the US military during an unannounced trip to Al Asad Air Base in Iraq, December 26, 2018. —AFP

President Donald Trump said on Wednesday the US is sending armed soldiers to the southern border after Mexican soldiers recently “pulled guns” on US troops.

Trump appeared to be referring to an April 13 incident in which Mexican troops reportedly questioned and pointed their weapons at two US troops conducting surveillance on the border.

“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!” he tweeted.

“We are now sending ARMED SOLDIERS to the Border. Mexico is not doing nearly enough in apprehending & returning!”

Examine: A look at the state of the wall on the US-Mexico border

US Northern Command said the two US soldiers were in an unmarked vehicle conducting “border support operations” on the American side of the border when they were approached by five to six Mexican military personnel. The incident occurred north of the Rio Grande in Texas, but in an unmarked area south of the border fence.

An inquiry “revealed that the Mexican military members believed that the US Army soldiers were south of the border. However, the US soldiers were appropriately in US territory,” NORTHCOM said.

Defense officials told CNN the Mexican soldiers pointed their weapons at the US troops, removed a soldier's sidearm and returned it to their unmarked vehicle.

The command's statement said only that the Mexican soldiers departed the area “after a brief discussion between the soldiers from the two nations.”

“Throughout the incident, the US soldiers followed all established procedures and protocols,” it added.

Opinion

Editorial

Taxing pensions
11 May, 2024

Taxing pensions

DESPITE the state of the economy, the IMF’s demand that the cash-strapped Shehbaz Sharif administration start...
Orwellian slide
11 May, 2024

Orwellian slide

IN recent years, Pakistan has made several attempts at introducing an overarching mechanism through which to check...
Terror against girls
11 May, 2024

Terror against girls

ONCE again, the ogre of terrorism is seeking the sacrifice of schoolgirls. On Wednesday, just days after the...
Enrolment drive
Updated 10 May, 2024

Enrolment drive

The authorities should implement targeted interventions to bring out-of-school children, especially girls, into the educational system.
Gwadar outrage
10 May, 2024

Gwadar outrage

JUST two days after the president, while on a visit to Balochistan, discussed the need for a political dialogue to...
Save the witness
10 May, 2024

Save the witness

THE old affliction of failed enforcement has rendered another law lifeless. Enacted over a decade ago, the Sindh...