President Donald Trump (R) is heading back to the White House, and Republicans are feeling much more hopeful about the southern border. In an interview on the "Future of Defense," Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R) and Axios' Hans Nichols discussed how the United States and Mexico should confront cartel concerns among other issues. When asked how he would like the U.S. to respond, he affirmed his support for wanting to "kill cartel members."
Under Mexican President, Mexico adopted a "hugs, not bullets" approach to deal with the cartels. This approach has drawn criticism from Republicans, who argue that it has only emboldened the cartels.
In a social media post - sharing a snippet from his discussion with Nichols - Rep. Crenshaw called the approach "disastrous." "For the past six years, that soft-handed policy was nothing short of an open invitation for cartels to expand their operations unchecked," he explained, adding that the approach only led to "record-high violence, brazen cartel activity, and a deteriorating security situation."
It's time for a reality check on Mexico's disastrous "hugs, not bullets" approach to dealing with cartels. For the past six years, that soft-handed policy was nothing short of an open invitation for cartels to expand their operations unchecked. What did Mexico get in return?… pic.twitter.com/Vdk767UFHW
— Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) November 17, 2024
However, the Texas Republican sees a shift in strategy under Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico's new president. "She's shown a willingness to utilize intelligence gathering, deploy troops, and coordinate efforts between federal and state forces, all while continuing efforts to keep young people away from organized crime," he shared. This approach, he adds, the United States should support.
Noting that the U.S. and Mexico have a shared interest in addressing the cartels because "they're flooding our streets with drugs, fueling the opioid crisis, and endangering families on both sides of the border," Rep. Crenshaw stressed that the U.S. should ensure that the Mexican Military is equipped with the necessary resources "like close air support and tactical assistance" to combat the cartels.
Both Rep. Crenshaw and Florida Rep. Mike Waltz (R) introduced legislation last year that would authorize the military to be used against the cartels to respond to the growing fentanyl crisis. During the 2024 presidential election, President Trump endorsed the approach.
