Trump orders preparation of military support for Mexican border mission

Trump has ordered Pentagon leadership or military service secretaries to prepare as many units or members of the Armed Forces, including the ready reserve and National Guard, as the Secretary of Defense deems necessary to support border security.

It is important to note that the state of emergency declared today by the new US president at the southern border allows for additional use of Department of Defense resources at the border.

Trump's directive also instructs the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security to collaborate with the Attorney General on reviewing policies, where applicable, to ensure that the use of force policy prioritizes the safety of Pentagon and Homeland Security personnel at the border.

"America’s sovereignty is under attack … This assault on the American people and the integrity of America’s sovereign borders represents a grave threat to our nation," Trump said on Monday.

He added that due to the severity and urgency of this current danger and imminent threat, the Armed Forces must take all necessary steps to assist the Department of Homeland Security in gaining full operational control over the southern border.

An additional executive order includes a directive for the Pentagon chief to present preparation and assessment requirements related to the NORTHCOM mission to close the borders and support the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the US.

In a conversation with journalists on Monday, a US Department of Defense spokesperson stated that the Pentagon is fully committed to executing the orders of our Commander-in-Chief and is doing so immediately under his leadership.

Currently, approximately 2,200 US service members are stationed at the border as part of the operational group led by Northern Command (Joint Task Force-North).

These troops are authorized to carry out tasks such as data entry, vehicle maintenance, transportation, training, detection, and monitoring, a representative of JTFN told CNN on Monday.

Trump signs executive orders to strengthen border protection

As previously reported, on his first day in office, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on immigration issues, which includes designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. This could potentially allow for the use of military forces on Mexican territory.

The recognition of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations may also lead to intensified financial sanctions and legal consequences in the US against those involved.

Trump also signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency at the US-Mexico southern border, which will result in the deployment of additional Pentagon resources and armed forces to complete the construction of the border wall, among other measures. His focus remains solely on the security of the southern border.

For more details on the first executive orders signed by Trump at the beginning of his presidency, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.