Macron Stresses Sovereignty in Fight Against Drug Trafficking Amid U.S. Operations in Latin America
Mexico City, The Gulf Observer: French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday emphasized that efforts to combat drug trafficking must fully respect the sovereignty of all nations, in remarks seen as a subtle critique of the United States’ controversial anti-narcotics operations in the Caribbean and Pacific.
Speaking during a joint press conference with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Macron said, “The fight against drug traffickers is one that unites us all. It is governed by the cooperation between sovereign nations and the respect for the sovereignty of each one.”
The comments came amid reports of the U.S. administration’s recent military actions in Latin America, which target vessels suspected of carrying narcotics in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. While the U.S. has reported the destruction of at least 18 vessels, experts have raised concerns that some strikes may constitute extrajudicial killings and that Washington has not provided public evidence linking all targets to narcotics trafficking or threats to U.S. security.
Macron, who arrived in Mexico at the end of a Latin America tour, also highlighted the importance of strengthening bilateral ties with Mexico, Latin America’s second-largest economy after Brazil. The leaders presided over a meeting with French and Mexican business leaders to discuss investment and economic cooperation.
He noted that Mexico is the leading Latin American investor in France, while France ranks as only the 11th largest foreign investor in Mexico. Macron’s visit marked the first by a French president to Mexico in over a decade.
