Mattis Heads to Mexico Amid Strain Over Disaster Condolences and Aid
Pentagon officials and experts say that the United States and Mexico have been doing more intelligence sharing, and
that Mexico, in particular, has been doing more to alert American authorities about people, including potential terrorism suspects, entering Mexico from other countries.
And though Mr. Trump has a propensity toward abrupt tweetstorms
that can upset allies, Armand Peschard-Sverdrup, an international business consultant and expert on Mexico, said that the relationship between the United States and Mexico will chug on because it is too important to fall apart.
13, 2017
WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will resume his role as the reassurer for American allies this week when he heads to Mexico, where he will try to mend relations after President Trump failed to quickly offer condolences for the earthquake on Friday
that killed at least 96 people and severely damaged thousands of homes.
After four days without word from Mr. Trump about the 8.2-magnitude earthquake in Oaxaca State, Mexico
on Monday rescinded its offer of aid to the United States for people affected by Hurricane Harvey.
During his first trip to Europe as defense secretary, in February, Mr. Mattis tried to convince allies
that contrary to what Mr. Trump had said, the United States had not soured on NATO.
The White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said on Tuesday
that Mr. Trump had scheduled a call with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico and that details of it would be shared with reporters.