Bipartisan Push for U.S.-Mexico Military Exercises
A bipartisan group from Congress, led by two representatives from Texas, has successfully encouraged Mexico’s Congress to authorize joint military exercises between the U.S. and Mexican armed forces, according to various reports.
Initially, Mexican legislators were hesitant to approve this collaboration, which includes participation from 19 U.S. Navy personnel. Members of Seal Team 2 are set to train alongside the Mexican Navy in Campeche, located by the Gulf of Mexico. This decision follows the recent arrest of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on January 3. It was only after a visit from the U.S. Congressional delegation in January that Mexico’s Congress agreed to the joint military exercises.
Retired Republican Congressman Michael McCaul, former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, spearheaded the U.S. delegation, advocating for these military exercises under close supervision from Mexican officials.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum approved the entry of military personnel a few days ago, and the Senate subsequently endorsed the arrival of marines on Wednesday, as reported by a Spanish-language news outlet. The exercises are scheduled to take place from February 15 to April 16.
McCaul co-chairs the Mexico-U.S. Intercongressional Group with Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar. They issued a statement emphasizing that securing approval for military exercises was a primary aim of their visit to Mexico.
“We had productive discussions regarding regional security, counternarcotics, immigration, trade, agriculture, and border infrastructure,” Cuellar noted in a press release. He pointed out that these discussions play a crucial role in enhancing border security, addressing the fentanyl crisis, and upholding U.S.-Mexico trade agreements.
This authorization comes as there is ongoing pressure from President Donald Trump to act against Mexican drug cartels responsible for fentanyl trafficking. The Mexican government, however, has consistently declined Trump’s previous proposals for military intervention against the cartels.
With Mexico being a significant source of fentanyl linked to the U.S., Trump reiterated early this January his strategy to directly confront drug trafficking organizations. Officials from his administration reported that a drone operated by a Mexican cartel had breached U.S. airspace, prompting immediate action to secure airspace around El Paso International Airport.
The U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), the military command overseeing operations with Mexico, has not responded to requests for comments regarding these developments.
