Half of the Mexican government is likely backed by the cartel, and their new woke female president isn’t likely to go along with it either.
Not like they’ll be able to put up much of a fight, but their resistance and hostility towards US military presence might warrant an occupation, and a complete overhaul of the Mexican government as to be less prone to corruption in the future.
This would also have the added benefit of incentivizing so many Mexican, both illegal and legal to wanting to move back voluntarily. Especially if the Mexican government gets the Trump treatment to encourage their tourism and agricultural economies. Mexico could likely become a 1st world country.
“Occupied territory” sore losers that don’t have the military or economic strength to back up their claim, so they do nothing but cope and seethe about it.
On your first point, it seems likely that Mexico would be hostile to the cartels removal. We might be in for a “strategic military operation” in Mexico like Russia in Ukraine.
We’ll steamroll them like Trump did with ISIS.
Unless the Russians, the Chinese and BRICs repeat Ukraine with us.
Sending them equipment. “Volunteers” and money. While tying up our operations in International Redtape and politics.
That and the Modern American public well. Has frankly grown softer and more averse to Military Casualties and the inevitability of Collateral Damage.
Not to mention the risk of the war being brought home. Given the Cartels have a presence in every state and most of the major cities and even many moderately sized Towns.
I’m getting the feeling that Russia and parts of China are on our side in this global fight against the cabal.
Also the cartels will be rounded up and expelled from the US before we make a move on Mexico. That’s just common sense, which Trump has in spades.