Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he was not ruling out the use of missile attacks on Mexican drug cartels, citing that such a decision would depend on the situation.
The Republican lawmaker made the remarks during a Wednesday interview that "deadly force is authorized." DeSantis' statement parallels the 2024 Republican presidential candidate's previous hardline stances on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Missile Strikes on Mexican Drug Cartels
CBS host Norah O'Donnell asked if the Florida governor would commit US troops to removing the Mexican cartels. The Republican said that they would work on defending the county and later described cartel members who cross the border with backpacks full of fentanyl, a drug that is responsible for tens of thousands of deaths per year.
DeSantis said that in those situations, they would authorize the use of deadly force against the Mexican drug cartels. O'Donnell asked the governor if he would launch missiles into Mexico, to which the lawmaker responded by saying that they would use all available tactics, as per Fox News.
The Republican added that the reality is that the cartels are overrunning the United States border. He noted that they conduct sex trafficking and human trafficking and are bringing in massive quantities of drugs.
Previously, in August, DeSantis affirmed the use of military force at the border at the Iowa State Fair. At the time, a voter also asked the Florida governor whether or not he would be willing to use drones against the Mexican drug cartels.
Answering the question, the Florida governor said that they would, adding that they reserve the right to defend the country if the cartels are invading and killing the nation's people. On the other hand, Mexican authorities have strongly pushed back against calls for further US military action.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said roughly six months ago that the former administration made the mistake of not launching a military offensive in Mexico. Since then, various GOP senators, including Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, John Kennedy, and J.D. Vance, voiced their support for US military operations in the neighboring nation, according to MSNBC.
Military Forces on the Border
DeSantis' stance on the matter is shared by GOP presidential candidates trying to one-up their rivals in the race and impress a rabid voter base. Former Ambassador Nikki Haley also pushed the same line as the Florida governor, which is sending US special forces into Mexico.
But during the recent interview, O'Donnell challenged the Florida governor's remarks, saying that sending missiles and troops into Mexico would cause a significant policy change compared to only deploying the military to the southern border.
But the Republican dodged the remark, asserting that Mexican cartels are taking over the border and that President Joe Biden needs to take lethal action to stop them immediately. DeSantis was also asked if troops could shoot migrants illegally crossing the border.
The governor clarified who the military personnel would be authorized to target, citing an example of a mother holding a baby as not being one of them. However, he said that if someone were wearing a backpack and trying to break through the wall, it would be considered hostile intent, said Politico.
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