The Mexican Senate’s Naval Ministry Commission has unanimously approved the deployment of fully armed U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) personnel to Mexico for a training mission with the Mexican Navy’s Infantería de Marina.
The training, which will focus on enhancing the Mexican marine infantry’s capabilities in both conventional and unconventional combat scenarios, is scheduled from February 17 through March 30 at the Luis Carpizo naval facility in Campeche. Senator Alejandro Moreno Cardenas, president of the commission, confirmed the approval, which was requested by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
The U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group, commonly known as the Green Berets, will arrive aboard a C-130 aircraft in Campeche two days before the training commences, according to reports.
The group has a history of participating in peacekeeping operations in countries such as Panama, Peru, and Ecuador, and has been deployed to Afghanistan. Notably, they were involved in Operation Just Cause, which led to the capture of Panamanian dictator Gen. Manuel Noriega in January 1990.
The recent development reflects ongoing collaboration between the United States and Mexico to strengthen security measures and combat organized crime.
Earlier this month, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and U.S. President Donald Trump reached an agreement to delay a 25% tariff on Mexican exports in exchange for Mexico stepping up its efforts to combat drug cartels smuggling fentanyl into the United States. In return, the U.S. pledged to take stronger measures to prevent high-powered weapons from being trafficked into Mexico.
As part of Trump’s broader crackdown on drug trafficking, the U.S. has also ramped up surveillance of Mexican cartels and deployed thousands of additional troops to the border.
