MEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz said Friday that Mexico should take a page out of El Salvador’s book in cracking down on drug cartels, and take the United States up on an offer to help combat organized crime.

The Republican senator from from Texas, who stopped in Mexico after visiting Panama and El Salvador this week, appeared to imply that the U.S. could take some actions against drug cartels on its own if Mexico declines joint action.

“It would be far preferable for it to be cooperative, and so my hope is the government of Mexico will recognize that defeating these cartels is overwhelmingly in the interest of the citizens of Mexico,” Cruz told a news conference. “My message to the government of Mexico is accept our offer as a friend.”

Cruz did not respond when asked to elaborate

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