In first, U.S. defense chief to attend Mexican Independence Day events

In first, U.S. defense chief to attend Mexican Independence Day events

U.S. President Donald Trump’s defense secretary plans this week to become the first Pentagon chief to travel to Mexico for its Independence Day activities, the Defense Department said on Tuesday, in a sign that defense ties are withstanding political tensions between the two countries.

U.S.-Mexican relations have been strained by Trump’s threats to curtail trade with Latin America’s No. 2 economy as well as his demand that Mexico pay for a border wall to keep out immigrants and drug traffickers.

Jim Mattis’ planned trip on Friday would be only the fifth by a U . . .