American troops land on a Mexican beach amidst escalating tension as Presidents Donald Trump and Claudia Sheinbaum trade words with Trump threatening to bomb neighbor

US military ‘contractors’ arrived by boat on Monday at Playa Bagdad, driving signs into the sand near where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico

Alarmed witnesses quickly alerted officials and heavily armed Mexican security personnel rushed to the scene on trucks mounted with machine guns in a terrifying standoff

Mexican personnel watched as the Americans drove six signs into the ground, which said: ‘Warning: restricted area

Written in English and Spanish, they claimed that the beach was the property of the US Department of Defense and had been declared restricted by ‘the commander’

They also said unauthorized access or photography was not allowed in that area and that ‘if you are found here, you may be detained and searched’

Mexico’s foreign affairs ministry said its navy removed the signs from the sand, which it believed were on Mexican territory

The Pentagon, in a deeply embarrassing statement, admitted US troops were mistaken when they landed on the beach

According to the Pentagon American military personnel seen placing signs on Bagdad beach in northern Mexico, ‘in an apparent error’ after mistakenly landing on the beach 

The presence of American troops on a beach in Mexican on Monday may yet signify an escalation of tensions between the neighbors after Donald Trump threatened to bomb the country. 
Locals witnessed US ‘contractors’ arriving by boat at Playa Bagdad, driving signs into the sand near where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
Those witnesses immediately alerted officials and heavily armed Mexican security personnel rushed to the scene on trucks mounted with machine guns, initiating a tension-filled standoff.
In the midst of the encroachment, the Pentagon admitted that its troops were ‘mistaken’ when they landed on the beach. 

US ‘contractors’ arrived by boat on Monday at Playa Bagdad, driving signs into the sand near where the Rio Grande empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Six signs were plunged by uniformed men into the sand, prompting alarm from witnesses 

The Mexican personnel watched as the Americans drove six signs into the ground, which said: ‘Warning: restricted area.’ 
The signs in both English and Spanish, declared the beach was the property of the US Department of Defense and restricted by ‘the commander.’
The signs further warned that unauthorized access or photography was not allowed in that area and that ‘if you are found here, you may be detained and searched.’
In the latest development, Mexico’s foreign affairs ministry said its navy removed the signs from the sand, in the area which it believes to be Mexico’s territory.

US military contractors mounted signs, written in both English and Spanish, stating that Playa Bagdad is the property of the US Dept of Defense and declared the area restricted by ‘the commander’

The US Embassy in Mexico shared a comment from the Pentagon on Tuesday which confirmed that personnel had been sent to mark ‘National Defense Area III.’
‘Changes in water depth and topography altered the perception of the international boundary’s location,’ the statement said. ‘Government of Mexico personnel removed six signs based on their perception of the international boundary’s location.’
The Pentagon added that contractors would ‘coordinate with appropriate agencies to avoid confusion in the future.’

The signs which have now been removed by the Mexico navy warned that unauthorized access or photography on this Mexican beach was not allowed and cautions that ‘if you are found here, you may be detained and searched’

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum declared on Tuesday that the International Boundary and Water Commission, a bi-national agency that determines the border between the two countries, would arbitrate the dispute.
Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement that ‘the origins of the signs and their placement on national territory were unclear’ and the Mexican Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission is getting involved.
‘[They] will review the maps and instruments that mark the border between both countries, as established by existing boundary and water treaties,’ the statement ended.
The IBWC is a bi-national agency that oversees the border and water treaties between the US and Mexico, marking the international boundary as one of its several jobs. 
Reportedly, both the US and Mexican agencies should seek advice from the IBWC before doing any construction or starting any project that might affect the international boundary. 

Mexico’s president Claudia Sheinbaum responding to the surprise US signage in her country declared on Tuesday that the International Boundary and Water Commission, a bi-national agency that determines the border between the two countries, would arbitrate the dispute

Rising cross border tensions: A day after President Trump said he would use whatever means necessary to stop drugs from coming in to the United States, President Claudia Sheinbaum responded that US strikes against drug cartels on Mexican soil are outlawed

The exact location of the beach remains unconfirmed by both parties, but a video circulating on social media and in local news appears to show Mexican marines taking down the signs. 
Questions remain about what Navy personnel were doing there and who the authority was on the project.
Sheinbaum on Tuesday once again turned down Trump’s suggestion to have US military intervention against the drug cartels.
‘I have told him on every occasion that we can collaborate, that they can help us with information they have, but that we operate in our territory, that we do not accept any intervention by a foreign government,’ Mexico’s president said.
The ‘erroneous sign planting’ statement’ may be hard to swallow across the border giving President Trump saying several times of late that he is ‘not happy with Mexico.’
Furthermore, at the start of his second term Trump had announced a contentious name change replacing the Gulf of Mexico with Gulf of America.
His Mexican counterpart has rejected the name change which was announced at the same January White House press conference where the incoming president refused to rule out using military force to take control of the Panama Canal and Greenland.