Chapter 2019 - 837: Influence Spread (Part 3)

Calderon looked at him.

"What do you want to say?"

The Minister of Defense was silent for a few seconds.

"Mexicans."

February 18, 1998, Mexico City.

Victor looked at the telegram sent from Costa Rica.

The telegram was short but urgently worded: "The Republic of Costa Rica requests the Mexican Government to provide military assistance to help combat drug-armed forces within its borders. The form, scale, and duration of assistance are negotiable."

He put down the telegram.

Bramo stood beside him.

"The situation in Costa Rica is already out of control. Over the past six months, 'Black Pearl' has been massively landing from their Pacific ports and then transported to the United States, Europe. Local gangs and drug traffickers are scrambling for it, the police dare not go out, and the military equipment is too poor. They're about to collapse."

Victor remained silent.

"How shall we respond?"

Victor thought for a moment.

"Tell them, yes. But with conditions."

Bramo took out a notebook.

"First, Mexican stationed troops enjoy diplomatic immunity."

"Second, the costs of stationed troops are borne by the Government of Costa Rica, which can be offset by port management rights."

"Third, the duration for stationed troops is three years, renewable upon expiration."

"Fourth, the Government of Costa Rica must publicly announce that the request for Mexican assistance is voluntary and under no external pressure."

Bramo finished noting and looked up.

"Will they agree?"

Victor looked out the window.

"They have no choice."

February 20, 1998, San Costa Rica.

Calderon looked at the draft agreement sent from Mexico City, tapping his fingers on the table for a long time.

Diplomatic immunity. Port management rights. Three-year duration.

This is troop deployment, not assistance.

But he had no choice.

"Mr. President." The Minister of Foreign Affairs stood beside him, "About Parliament—"

"Parliament?" Calderon interrupted him, "Is there anyone in Parliament whose home hasn't been harassed by drug traffickers? Whose child hasn't seen 'Black Pearl' in school?"

The Minister of Foreign Affairs remained silent.

Calderon picked up a pen.

February 22, 1998, Mexico City.

Victor looked at the signed agreement and nodded.

"Tell the Department of Defense to send a battalion over. Not for war, but for display."

Bramo paused for a moment.

"Display what?"

"Display that Mexico can protect its neighbors." Victor stood up, "Let the whole world see who is truly capable of providing security in this region."

February 24, 1998, San Costa Rica.

When the first batch of Mexican soldiers arrived, the outskirts of the airport were crowded with people.

Not protesting, but watching.

Two hundred soldiers, dressed in olive-green combat uniforms, carrying brand-new rifles, walked out from the transport plane, formed ranks, and then boarded trucks heading for the port.

The whole process took less than twenty minutes.

The reporters frantically took pictures.

The next day, the whole world saw those photos.

The headlines were uniform: "Mexico sends troops to Costa Rica."

February 26, 1998, Washington D.C.

Turner looked at the newspaper, tapping his fingers on the table.

"The Mexicans have entered Costa Rica."

The assistant stood beside him.

"They say it's at the request of the Government of Costa Rica, combating drug-armed forces."

Turner said nothing.

He knew what this was called.

This was called a sphere of influence.

The Mexicans were telling the whole world in their own way: Central America is our backyard. If you want to come in, you must ask us first.

February 28, 1998, Saint Costa Rica Port.

The Mexican stationed troops' commander was a forty-year-old Colonel named Garcia. He stood on the rooftop of the tallest building in the port, looking at the gray-blue sea below.

In the distance, a few fishing boats were coming to shore.

"Colonel, radar shows those boats haven't declared entry."

Garcia picked up his binoculars.

The boats were fishing boats, but they were too deep-loaded, and the items piled on the deck did not look like fishing nets.

"Let the patrol boat go and check." 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Twenty minutes later, the patrol boat commander reported back:

"The boat is carrying 'Black Pearl.' Five hundred kilograms."

Garcia put down the binoculars.

The first day. Five hundred kilograms.

This sea is dirtier than imagined.

March 2, 1998, San Costa Rica.

Calderon stood on the balcony of the Presidential Palace, looking at the crowd on the square below.

Not protesting, but celebrating.

In the past week, Mexican stationed troops had intercepted over two tons of drugs along the Pacific coast, captured seventeen drug traffickers, and destroyed three drug processing sites.

On the streets of Costa Rica, for the first time, people dared to go out at night.

"Mr. President." The Minister of Foreign Affairs stood behind him, "The U.S. ambassador is here. He wants to see you."

Calderon didn't turn around.

"Let him wait."

March 3, 1998, San Costa Rica.

The U.S. ambassador waited for a whole day.

The next day, Calderon finally met him.

"Mr. President," the ambassador got straight to the point, "We express concern over Mexico's military presence in Costa Rica."

Calderon looked at him.

"Concern over what?"

"Concern whether it will affect regional stability."

Calderon laughed.

"Stability? Mr. Ambassador, over the past six months, two thousand people in my country have died. The police dare not go out, the port was occupied by drug traffickers, children buy drugs at school. This is called stability?"

The ambassador said nothing.

"The Mexicans came, drugs decreased, public security improved. This is called instability?"

The ambassador stood up.

"Mr. President, the United States is simply reminding you not to be used by certain countries."

Calderon looked at him.

"Mr. Ambassador, tell Washington that Costa Rica appreciates the United States' concern. But what we need now is not concern, but effective soldiers."

March 5, 1998, Mexico City.