logo
Mexico says there's no agreement with DEA for new border enforcement collaboration

Mexico says there's no agreement with DEA for new border enforcement collaboration

Toronto Star12 hours ago
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum talks to reporters during a joint press conference, in Calakmul, Campeche state, Mexico, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Zetina) MC flag wire: true flag sponsored: false article_type: pubinfo.section: cms.site.custom.site_domain : thestar.com sWebsitePrimaryPublication : publications/toronto_star bHasMigratedAvatar : false firstAuthor.avatar :
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mexico's Sheinbaum has more leeway than Carney when dealing with Trump
Mexico's Sheinbaum has more leeway than Carney when dealing with Trump

Globe and Mail

time3 hours ago

  • Globe and Mail

Mexico's Sheinbaum has more leeway than Carney when dealing with Trump

Speaking at her regular marathon morning news conference Wednesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum offered pithy comments on her meeting the previous day with Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand. She was responding to a softball question about all her recent meetings at the National Palace – with the Canadian ministers, visiting Walmart executives and synchronized swimmers and divers returning from the world championships. Ms. Sheinbaum spoke of wanting to improve relations with Canada, promote investment and have Prime Minister Mark Carney visit Mexico. She then mentioned Canadian mining companies – an old bugaboo for her political base. 'We also talked about mining companies … and the need for them to comply with all the requirements imposed by environmental impact statements,' she said before changing the subject to the synchronized swimmers and divers. Canadian ministers to discuss trade in meetings with Mexican president and government officials Liberal cabinet ministers defend Canada's U.S. trade strategy in Mexico The brevity of Ms. Sheinbaum's comments regarding the Canadian delegation underscored Canada's low profile in Mexico, where foreign relations work focuses heavily on the United States and, increasingly under the ruling Morena party, spats with other Latin American governments in defence of leftist allies. But it also demonstrated her control of the national agenda, as she alone speaks for the country – with little accountability and no rejoinders from state governors or business leaders. Comments from opposition politicians are rebuked as unpatriotic, and Mexican media rarely press the President with tough questions. Ms. Sheinbaum boasts a 75-per-cent approval rating, according to newspaper El Financiero, while Morena and its allies hold supermajorities in Congress and control of most of the state governments. Her domestic political strength and dominance over the media landscape provide leeway for dealing with U.S President Donald Trump and making steep concessions without drawing a sharp outcry. 'The fundamental difference' with Canada 'is that President Sheinbaum can say whatever she wants publicly because there is no one in Mexico who will demand comments that correspond with the facts,' said Carlos Heredia, a professor at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics, a Mexico City university. Ms. Sheinbaum addresses Mexico through her morning news conferences, where simple questions from pro-government influencers are the norm. The mañanera, as the presser is colloquially known, sets the news cycle for the day, as her comments are repeated throughout Mexican media. She has used it to shape the narrative on Mexico's response to Mr. Trump's tariff threats, picking her retorts carefully – such as pointing to the stream of smuggled U.S. guns causing mayhem in Mexico. She often downplays negative news with pledges of co-ordination and co-operation, all the while insisting that 'Mexico is respected.' There are even attempts to find common ground with Mr. Trump, such as populist politics. 'I think he respects us and we respect him for what we are: neighbours elected by our peoples,' she said July 31 after Mexico received a 90-day postponement of 30-per-cent tariffs. Opinion: On tariffs, Trump is the opposite of unpredictable Left unsaid: the concessions made by Mexico and the increasingly heavy ask being made by Mr. Trump, who has accused Mexico of giving drug cartels free rein. 'We continue to bend the knee and everything, or most of the things that Trump is asking for, the Mexican government is more or less delivering,' said Arturo Sarukhán, a former Mexican ambassador in Washington. 'I don't think a Canadian prime minister could do that. They just wouldn't have the political capital or a population willing to do that,' he added. 'The leeway that she has to do what she's doing with Trump is basically predicated by domestic Mexican politics.' For their part, Mr. Champagne and Ms. Anand held a virtual news conference for the parliamentary press gallery after their first day of meetings in Mexico City. They spoke of rekindling relations with Mexico, deepening business ties and strengthening supply chains. But they dodged questions about how Mexico got a 90-day deferment. Ms. Sheinbaum described the reprieve as 'a very advantageous condition for Mexico compared to any other country.' She has received plaudits for deftly handling Mr. Trump by keeping a 'cool head.' But she routinely acquiesces to U.S. demands. She won a 30-day tariff reprieve in February after agreeing to send 10,000 soldiers to the northern border – ostensibly to stop the smuggling of illegal fentanyl. Mexico has stopped thousands of migrants from transiting the country toward the U.S. border – actions recognized by Mr. Trump. The country also handed over 29 drug cartel bosses to U.S. justice officials and cracked down on fentanyl labs. And unlike Canada, Mexico has not imposed countervailing tariffs on U.S. goods. 'She can do as she pleases, but she also knows there is lots of dirt in the Mexico drug lords file,' said Rodolfo Soriano-Núñez, a Mexican sociologist. Her willingness to acquiesce will be tested after Mr. Trump secretly signed a directive to use military force against the cartels his administration has designated as terror organizations, according to The New York Times. Tony Keller: What does Donald Trump want from Canada? We are about to find out 'We co-operate, we collaborate, but an invasion is not going to happen. … It's absolutely out of the question,' Ms. Sheinbaum said Friday in response to story. 'When they've raised the issue, we've always said no.' 'Canada's strategy is 'elbows up.' And if we had to summarize Mexico's strategy, it's 'live to fight another day,'' said Luis Antonio Espino, a Mexican political analyst based in Toronto. 'The bar for Sheinbaum is very low, and for Carney it's very high.' Ms. Sheinbaum has received a boost from domestic factors, too, such as social programs that provide seniors, single mothers and students with cash stipends of roughly $455 every two months. The Mexican economy has slumped in 2025. But Mr. Trump's trade war has weakened the U.S. dollar and correspondingly strengthened the Mexican peso. 'The peso is climbing, and they think everything is going well,' Mr. Espino said. Why 'elbows up' is Canada's rallying cry in the trade war against Trump's tariffs Polls show deep Mexican disapproval of Mr. Trump. El Financiero put the figure at 86 per cent, according to a July survey. Just 29 per cent of Mexicans now view the U.S. favourably, down from 51 per cent six months earlier. Analysts describe Mexicans as holding clear-eyed views of the United States. They never considered Americans to be close friends, have grown accustomed to receiving threats from U.S. leaders and remember being invaded twice by U.S. soldiers – losing half their territory in the Mexican-American War. 'The average Mexican senses the President can do very little and sees Donald Trump as a gringo doing what gringos have always done. But he does this very openly and rudely,' Mr. Espino said. 'Mexico obviously can't negotiate much,' he added. But for many Mexicans, 'if the President manages another 90 days without much interfering in Mexico and the peso remains stable … there's no real crisis.'

Syria's top diplomat, Israeli delegation meet as U.S. pushes for 'lasting stability'
Syria's top diplomat, Israeli delegation meet as U.S. pushes for 'lasting stability'

Toronto Sun

time4 hours ago

  • Toronto Sun

Syria's top diplomat, Israeli delegation meet as U.S. pushes for 'lasting stability'

Published Aug 19, 2025 • 4 minute read This is a locator map for Syria with its capital, Damascus. Photo by AP Photo BEIRUT — Syria's foreign minister held a rare direct meeting with an Israeli delegation in Paris on Tuesday, talks that were brokered by the United States as part of a diplomatic push for Syria and Israel to normalize relations despite a recent surge in tensions between them. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Syria's state-run SANA news agency said Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani met with Israeli officials to discuss de-escalating tensions and restoring a 1974 ceasefire agreement — a deal that established a demilitarized separation zone between Israeli and Syrian forces and stationed a UN peacekeeping force to maintain calm. The statement gave no details on the outcome of the Paris meeting. But a senior Trump administration official, who was not authorized to comment publicly on the matter, confirmed the talks. 'The United States continues to support any efforts that will bring lasting stability and peace between Israel and its neighbours,' the official told The Associated Press, adding that the backing follows President Donald Trump's outlined 'vision of a prosperous Middle East' that includes a 'stable Syria at peace with itself and its neighbours — including Israel.' Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'We want to do everything we can to help achieve that.' Long road to normalization In the past, Syrian officials have acknowledged holding indirect talks with Israel to defuse tensions, but this was the first time they acknowledged taking part in direct negotiations. There was no immediate confirmation of the meeting from Israel. Tensions have soared between the two neighbours following the overthrow of Syrian president Bashar Assad in December in a lightning rebel offensive led by Islamist insurgents. Shortly after Assad's overthrow, Israeli forces seized control of the UN-patrolled buffer zone in Syria set up under the 1974 agreement and carried out airstrikes on military sites in what officials said was aimed at creating a demilitarized zone south of Damascus. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Israel has said it will not allow hostile forces to establish themselves along the frontier, as Iranian-backed groups did during Assad's rule. It distrusts Syria's new government, which is led by former Islamist insurgents. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaida commander who severed ties with the militant group years ago, has pledged to build a new country that respects the rights of minorities, but sectarian violence has erupted on a number of occasions, raising concerns about Syria's fragile transition. Sectarian clashes, Druze grievances Israel stepped up its intervention when violence erupted in Syria's Sweida province last month between Bedouin clans and government forces on one side and armed groups from the Druze religious minority on the other. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. During the fighting, some government forces allegedly killed Druze civilians, including a medical worker in a hospital in Sweida — an incident that was caught on video — and a U.S. citizen. Other videos circulating online have shown fighters forcibly shaving the mustaches off Druze sheikhs, or religious leaders, and stepping on Druze flags and photographs of religious clerics. The Syrian government has said it is investigating the allegations. The conflict then prompted airstrikes against Syrian forces by Israel before a truce — mediated by the U.S., Turkey and Arab countries — halted most of the fighting. Israel said it was acting to protect the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority in Israel and often serve in the military. Israel launched dozens of airstrikes on convoys of Syrian forces around Sweida and struck the headquarters of the Syrian Ministry of Defense in the heart of Damascus, Syria's capital. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Israel seized the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and later annexed the strategic plateau in a move that has only been recognized by the United States. The rest of the international community views the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. U.S. envoy holds talks Earlier on Tuesday, U.S. envoy to Syria Tom Barrack posted on X that he had held a 'warm and informative meeting' with Moafaq Tarif, the spiritual leader of Druze in Israel, and that the two discussed 'how to bring together the interests of all parties, de-escalate tensions, and build understanding.' Tarif described the meeting as 'excellent' and said the Druze want American assistance with an end to the blockade of Sweida and humanitarian aid for the people there, the return of the Druze who were kidnapped during the fighting, as well as American assurances of Druze security. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Though the fighting has largely calmed down, Syrian government forces have surrounded the southern city of Sweida, named after the province, and the Druze have said that little aid is getting in, describing the situation as a siege. While the Druze in Syria have historically been wary of Israel, an increasing number are now open to seeking Israeli assistance. Hundreds demonstrated in Sweida on Saturday to demand the right to self-determination for the Druze minority, with some protesters waving Israeli flags. Videos and photos of the spectacle circulating on social media sparked outrage from many other Syrians, who accused the protesters of being traitors. — Associated Press writers Joseph Krauss in Ottawa; Aamer Madhani in Washington and Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv contributed to this report. Toronto Blue Jays NHL World Sunshine Girls Canada

Trump administration revokes security clearances of 37 current and former government officials
Trump administration revokes security clearances of 37 current and former government officials

CTV News

time6 hours ago

  • CTV News

Trump administration revokes security clearances of 37 current and former government officials

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON — The Trump administration moved Tuesday to revoke the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials in the latest act of retribution targeting public servants in the federal government's intelligence community. A memo posted online by Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, accuses the targeted officials of having engaged in the 'politicization or weaponization of intelligence' to advance partisan goals, as well as failure to safeguard classified information and 'failure to adhere to professional analytic tradecraft standards.' Many of the officials who were singled out left the government years ago and served in a broad range of roles, including in senior positions and lower-profile roles far from the public eye. Some have been openly critical of Trump and some worked on matters that have long provoked his ire, including the intelligence community assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election on Trump's behalf, or have openly criticized him. The action is part of a broader Trump administration campaign to wield the levers of government against perceived adversaries. It reflects his continued distrust of intelligence officials from prior Democratic administrations and risks chilling dissenting voices from within the national security community. The revocation of clearances, a vital tool for intelligence professionals needing to preserve access to sensitive information, has been a go-to tactic for Trump, used to target law firms that have fallen out of favor as well as dozens of former officials who signed onto a letter saying that the Hunter Biden laptop saga bore the hallmarks of a Russian disinformation campaign. 'These are unlawful and unconstitutional decisions that deviate from well-settled, decades-old laws and policies that sought to protect against just this type of action,' Mark Zaid, a national security lawyer whose own clearance was revoked by the Trump administration, said in a statement. Gabbard defended Tuesday's move on social media by saying, 'Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right.' In the last month Gabbard has declassified a series of years-old documents meant to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the assessment on Russian election interference. Many of those whose clearances were revoked only learned of the Gabbard action from news reports published Tuesday, according to two former government officials who were on the list. Both spoke on the condition of anonymity as they ponder whether to take legal action. Eric Tucker, Aamer Madhani And Matthew Lee, The Associated Press

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store