Trump Threatens Mexico With More Tariffs, 'Even Sanctions' If It Fails To Deliver Owed Water To Texas

President Donald Trump threatened Mexico with additional tariffs and "even sanctions" if it fails to honor a water treaty with Texas that has caused an ongoing dispute at the southern border.

"Mexico OWES Texas 1.3 million acre-feet of water under the 1944 Water Treaty, but Mexico is unfortunately violating their Treaty obligation," Trump said in a publication on his social media platform, Truth Social. He was making reference to the 1944 agreement in which Mexico is required to deliver 1.75 million acre-feet of water to Texas over five-year cycles.

However, Texas has not been receiving the stipulated amount as low amounts of rainfall and low reservoir levels along the southern border have caused significant delays. Mexico's water commission CONAGUA has argued that the country is not unwilling to comply, just unable.

Figures from the office in late March show that the Amistad and Falcon Reservoirs are currently sitting at just 13.7% and 7.2% capacity, respectively. Similarly, other reservoirs along the border such as La Boquilla Dam in Chihuahua and Las Virgenes in Southern California are sitting at 15% and 11.7% capacity.

"We want to comply with the treaty – from which both countries benefit greatly. But we are in a drought situation made worse in recent years due to factors such as climate change," the official told Border Report.

The individual added that Mexico is evaluating options to mitigate the water debt before the end of the current cycle and that authorities from both countries are cooperating to reach a solution.

Trump, however, took a more belligerent approach, saying that he will "make sure Mexico doesn't violate our Treaties, and doesn't hurt our Texas Farmers." "We will keep escalating consequences, including TARIFFS and, maybe even SANCTIONS, until Mexico honors the Treaty, and GIVES TEXAS THE WATER THEY ARE OWED!" he added.

"Last year, the only Sugar Mill in Texas CLOSED, because Mexico has been stealing the water from Texas Farmers. Ted Cruz has been leading the fight to get South Texas the water it is owed, but Sleepy Joe refused to lift a finger to help the Farmers," Trump said in another passage of his message.

By the end of last year Mexico had delivered about 25% of the agreed amount. The State Department said that, as a result, the U.S. would deny a "non-treaty request for a special delivery channel for Colorado River water to be delivered to Tijuana."

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has received praise for her way of dealing with Trump, even from the U.S. president himself, said that "to the extent water is available, Mexico has been complying" and instructed officials to contact U.S. officials to address the matter. She added that she is confident that "as on other issues, an agreement will be reached."