Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with President Claudia Sheinbaum, after she pressed the Trump administration not to take unilateral action in Mexico.
The U.S. guided-missile destroyer Sampson in Panama City on Tuesday. The Pentagon has been amassing a small armada of warships in the southern Caribbean.
President Trump signed a still-secret directive in July instructing the Pentagon to use military force against some Latin American drug cartels that his administration has labeled “terrorist” organizations.
President Trump has ordered military action against Latin American drug cartels and has threatened a new tariff. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico has pushed back.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wants to bolster ties with Asia to counter Beijing’s power, but President Trump’s tariff threats have nations asking why they should align with Washington.