Earlier media reports claimed the US president was pressuring the neighboring country to accept a military deployment to help fight drug cartels

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has rejected US President Donald Trump's offer to deploy troops to fight the drug cartels. She insisted that while Mexico is open to cooperation, it will never accept "subordination" to Washington.

Sheinbaum's comments came after a Wall Street Journal report on Saturday claimed that Trump had pressured her to allow US military operations inside Mexico. The report focused on a mid-April phone call in which Trump reportedly pushed for troops to be deployed to combat fentanyl-smuggling cartels. According to sources, Sheinbaum rebuffed the idea, leading to a heated exchange.

Speaking at a university opening on Saturday, Sheinbaum confirmed the report and outlined her position.

"It is true... he said, 'I propose that the US army enter to help.' And you know what I told him? No, President Trump, our territory is inalienable, our sovereignty is inalienable, our sovereignty is not for sale!" she said.

She added that if Trump wants to help, he should focus on stopping the flow of weapons from the US into Mexico.

A statement from the White House on Saturday said Sheinbaum and Trump have worked closely "to achieve the most secure southwest border in history," but did not address the reported offer of troops.

"The president has been crystal clear that Mexico must do more to combat these gangs and cartels, and the US stands ready to assist and expand the already close cooperation between our two countries," the statement read.

Trump has long accused Mexico of failing to prevent drug cartels from smuggling fentanyl into the US. During last year's presidential campaign, he pledged to crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking. He later claimed that Mexico is "essentially run by the cartels," and suggested that the US should "wage war" on them.

In order to place pressure on the country, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on all Mexican imports. They were later paused for goods covered under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, including food, medical devices, clothing, chemicals, and machinery. A separate 25% tariff on Mexican car imports remains in effect. In addition to tariffs, the US has sanctioned cartel members and affiliates.

READ MORE: US suspends tariffs on Mexican goods after very friendly talk

In February, Sheinbaum agreed to deploy 10,000 troops to combat fentanyl smuggling and help stem illegal border crossings. That month, Mexico extradited 29 cartel suspects to the US.

(RT.com)