Recently, there has been a growing concern about the possibility of a Republican president starting a war with Mexico. Various republican politicians and candidates, including Donald Trump, have suggested using military force to combat the Mexican drug cartels. Additionally, many in Mexico believe that such a war would be under the guise of fighting crime, but with the actual intent of controlling Mexico’s natural resources like oil and lithium. In this blog post, we will look at why such a war may be a possibility and its potential consequences.
The idea of a war with Mexico is not new. In the past, there were rumors that the U.S would invade Mexico to acquire its natural resources, particularly lithium and oil. The same concerns are being raised today, with many Mexican citizens wary of U.S interests in their country. The truth is that the U.S has a long history of foreign interventions (The Monroe Doctrine), and it is not far-fetched to assume that the U.S could interfere with Mexico’s affairs.
Many Republicans have openly expressed their intentions to use force against the drug cartels in Mexico, citing the need to protect U.S citizens. This puts a Mexican vs American conflict in an awkward position, especially with the recent changes in politics, fueling what could become an international conflict. If De Santis or any other Republican candidate would become the next head of state, the U.S foreign policy with Mexico would drastically change.
Mexico is a crucial ally of the U.S, especially when it comes to trade. The two countries have a symbiotic relationship that contributes to each other’s economic growth. War with Mexico could have disastrous consequences for the U.S economy, and it is unlikely that any Republican president with a brain would take on such a risk for the sake of populism.
Besides, Mexico is not a weak nation. It has a formidable patriotic population, and it would not hesitate to defend itself aggressively if need be. War with Mexico would be a prolonged and costly affair that might stretch the U.S military too thin, considering that it is already involved in several foreign disputes and the proxy war with Russia. It is highly unlikely that any Republican president would want to ignite such tensions with a neighbor.
While war with Mexico cannot be entirely ruled out, it is still unlikely to occur soon. The U.S and Mexico are vital trading partners, and it would make little sense to start a war that could negatively impact the economies of both countries. The Republicans might be vocal about their intentions, but this is most likely political posturing to gain support. The recently signed USMCA trade deal only reinforced the need for a peaceful and cooperative relationship between the two countries. Therefore, it would be prudent to avoid rumors and focus on strengthening diplomatic ties between the U.S and Mexico.
