An aircraft belonging to the US Navy has been observed flying near the coast of Mexico in response to President Donald Trump’s warnings of potential military action against the country.
The P-8 Poseidon aircraft was tracked conducting surveillance and reconnaissance activities off Tijuana, situated south of California. Originating from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington, the aircraft flew over Oregon and California before circling the Mexican and Southern Californian coastlines. Equipped with advanced sensors, the P-8 is capable of detecting targets on both the surface and underwater.
During its mission, the plane patrolled the Southern Californian shoreline towards Baja and Ensenada, covering territorial waters adjacent to San Diego and Tijuana, extending around 352 miles westward into the Pacific Ocean. The purpose of this flight in relation to President Trump’s remarks regarding Mexico’s drug smuggling issue remains unclear.
President Trump had previously suggested the possibility of military intervention in Mexico similar to actions taken in Venezuela if the Mexican government fails to combat drug cartels effectively. His strong stance on addressing the cartel influence in Mexico was reiterated during a meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum.
On the international front, concerns were raised at a UN Security Council emergency meeting about President Trump’s potential military operations in Venezuela and his comments hinting at expanded military actions in countries like Colombia and Mexico over drug trafficking accusations. Allies and adversaries of the US expressed opposition to such interventions during the meeting.
While French President Emmanuel Macron supported the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro, France’s UN envoy criticized any violations of international law, emphasizing the importance of upholding the principles of peace and non-use of force. However, the US envoy defended President Trump’s actions in Venezuela, labeling them as justified law enforcement operations.
Amidst these developments, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concerns over the US military actions on January 3, highlighting potential implications for future international relations.