Imagine you are the President of the United States and a large territory of Mexico, sharing a significant border with the United States, declares independence from Mexico.
The territory is run primarily by individuals who gained power, money, and prestige in violent, exploitative Mexican drug cartels, responsible for billions of dollars of illegal drug trafficking into the US and thousands of deaths. However, they have used that influence to form a functional government and are making great strides at improving the local economy and the welfare of the territory's citizens.
The new territory has asked for US recognition and trade ties, and has explicitly demanded that the US not discuss the issue with Mexico.
| Reject the offer | Mobilize the National Guard and tighten security along the border. Push for additional measures to enhance security against the territory. Threaten strong retaliation for any acts of violence against the US, and warn that any movement of drugs across the border may be viewed as an act of war. |
| Do not discuss directly with the new territory | Send diplomats to Mexico City to determine a bilateral solution to the joint issue. Raise the issue at the UN General Assembly to get a sense of the international pulse. Enhance security modestly, just enough to protect US economic interests in the region. |
| Reject the offer | Declare publicly that no state that earns its revenue from drugs and violence is a legitimate state. Push for international action against the new state on moral grounds, and acknowledge Mexico's rightful ownership of the territory. |