Mexico City, May 23 (SocialNews.XYZ) Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has defended the principle of self-determination and voiced disagreement with the US decision to bring criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro.
"What is the point of accusing someone now for something that happened 30 years ago?" Sheinbaum said at her daily press conference on Friday (local time).
The US Department of Justice has recently filed an indictment against Castro, accusing him of playing an alleged role in the 1996 downing of two aircraft operated by the Cuban-American exile group Brothers to the Rescue, reports Xinhua news agency.
Castro, 94, was Cuba's minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces at the time.
According to the Cuban government, the aircraft had repeatedly violated Cuban airspace and ignored prior warnings, leaving Cuba no choice but to exercise what it described as its right to self-defence.
Sheinbaum said the United States has always used the issue of drug trafficking as a pretext for interference, adding that Mexico does not share that approach.
She also said Mexico should remain mindful of history while continuing to cooperate with the United States where possible.
"We do not want to fight with them," she said, adding that Mexico seeks cooperation while prioritising the interests of both peoples and maintaining constructive relationships between the two governments.
Separately, Sheinbaum reaffirmed the collaboration between the United States and Mexico on security, but stressed that it must comply with Mexican law and respect national sovereignty.
At her daily press conference, Sheinbaum said she discussed key security issues during a meeting on Thursday with US Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
"I explained to him with complete transparency what our laws and Constitution are. The framework in which cooperation must take place," she said, adding that Mexican law does not allow joint operations by foreign agents on national territory.
Sheinbaum said both sides reaffirmed their commitment to working under the principles of mutual respect and coordination.
"It was very clear ... that the cooperation between the United States and Mexico is that -- cooperation and coordination, not subordination," she said, adding that the next meeting under the security framework is expected to take place in June.
Mullin's visit came after two US citizens, presumed to be linked to the Central Intelligence Agency, were reported to have participated in an operation in April in the northern state of Chihuahua. Both later died in a car accident.
Source: IANS
About Gopi
Gopi Adusumilli is a Programmer. He is the editor of SocialNews.XYZ and President of AGK Fire Inc.
He enjoys designing websites, developing mobile applications and publishing news articles on current events from various authenticated news sources.
When it comes to writing he likes to write about current world politics and Indian Movies. His future plans include developing SocialNews.XYZ into a News website that has no bias or judgment towards any.
He can be reached at gopi@socialnews.xyz