The Canadian Press: Mexico's top diplomat defends US drone flights, but acknowledges 'tensions' with Washington: "Mexico's top diplomat on Thursday defended allowing U.S. drones to fly over Mexican territory to hunt drug traffickers, while acknowledging the government has disagreements and "moments of tension" with Washington.
Foreign Relations Secretary Patricia Espinosa said the drone flights do not violate Mexico's sovereignty because they are "controlled" by Mexico and are unarmed.
After the flights were reported Wednesday, Mexico's National Security Council said U.S. unmanned aircraft have been sent over Mexico on surveillance missions when requested by the Mexican government. A U.S. official told The Associated Press that for each mission a Mexican official is present at the U.S. command centre where a drone is remotely piloted.
Drone flights "do not violate (our) sovereignty because they are controlled by the government of Mexico and contribute to its capacity to fight organized crime," Espinosa said in a meeting with senators."
The MexicoBlog of the Americas Program, a fiscally sponsored program of the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), is written by Laura Carlsen. I monitor and analyze international press on Mexico, with a focus on security, immigration, human rights and social movements for peace and justice, from a feminist perspective. And sometimes I simply muse.
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