MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum quelled concerns on Monday about two recent movements of the U.S. military in the vicinity of Mexico that have the country on edge since the attack on Venezuela.
On Friday, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration urged U.S. aircraft operators to ''exercise caution'' when flying over the eastern Pacific Ocean near Mexico, Central America and parts of South America, citing ''military activities.''
The president said her administration waited a couple hours until the U.S. government provided ''written'' assurance that there would not be any U.S. military flights over Mexican territory. She said the U.S. government had not given Mexico a heads up about any military operations.
The U.S. government provided precise coordinates for where it was operating and Mexican authorities issued a statement saying the FAA advisory had no implications for Mexico.
Then, images of a U.S. military transport airplane on the tarmac at Toluca's airport about 39 miles (63 kilometers) west of Mexico City began circulating on social media.
Sen. Clemente Castañeda, of the opposition Citizen Movement party, posted on social platform X asking for an explanation from the government, because Mexico's senate is supposed to approve sending Mexican troops abroad or allowing foreign troops into Mexico.
Sheinbaum described it as a ''logistical'' operation that did not require senate approval.
''The United States plane landed, public servants got on that plane and they went (to the U.S.) for training,'' Sheinbaum said. ''Who authorized this? The Secretary of Defense.''
