A United States Navy surveillance aircraft has been tracked conducting operations near the coast of Mexico, in a move that follows stark warnings from President Donald Trump about potential military action against the country over its drug cartels.
Surveillance Flight Sparks Tensions
The aircraft, identified as a P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol jet, was observed on flight tracking platforms performing reconnaissance circuits off the Pacific coastline near Tijuana and Southern California. The plane had departed from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, flying over Oregon and California before beginning its mission.
According to reports, the jet operated in areas encompassing territorial waters and exclusive economic zones adjacent to San Diego and Tijuana, extending roughly 352 miles westward into the Pacific Ocean. The P-8 Poseidon is equipped with advanced sensors designed to monitor surface and subsurface maritime activity, often used to track suspicious vessels.
Trump's Direct Warning to Mexico
The flight comes in the wake of direct and provocative statements from President Trump aimed at the Mexican government. He has explicitly threatened military intervention, comparing it to the recent US operation in Venezuela, if Mexico fails to dismantle powerful drug trafficking organisations.
"The cartels are running Mexico, whether you like it or not," Trump stated. "It's not nice to say, but the cartels are running Mexico." In November, he delivered an ultimatum to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, declaring he would be "proud" to launch strikes inside Mexico to stop the flow of drugs, a move he claimed would "save millions of lives."
International Backlash at the United Nations
The escalating rhetoric and actions have triggered significant international concern. An emergency session of the UN Security Council was convened, where both allies and adversaries of the US voiced strong opposition not only to the Venezuela operation but also to Trump's threats against Colombia and Mexico.
France's deputy ambassador to the UN, Jay Dharmadhikari, criticised the US action in Venezuela, stating it ran "counter to the principle of non-use of force." He warned that violations of international law by permanent Security Council members erode the foundation of global order.
In response, US envoy and former Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz defended the Venezuela mission as a "surgical law enforcement operation." UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern that the rules of international law were not respected during the January 3rd military action, warning it could set a dangerous precedent for international relations.
While the direct link between the P-8 Poseidon's flight and Trump's threats remains officially unconfirmed, the timing underscores the heightened state of tension and the potential for a significant foreign policy crisis centred on the US-Mexico relationship and the global war on drugs.
