President Claudia Sheinbaum requested the Senate of the Republic for authorization for ten members of the United States Army Special Forces Group to train elements of the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) in Mexico. The goal is to strengthen the capacity of the Special Operations Forces of Semar through training at the Specialized Training and Instruction Center of the Navy Infantry in San Luis Carpizo, Campeche, scheduled to take place between February 17 and March 28, 2025.
In a statement sent by the Secretariat of the Interior to the Board of Directors of the Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Union, it is specified that the training activities focused on increasing the operational capacities and training level of national troops will be carried out in maritime, land, and air environments. It is expected that the U.S. military will arrive at Campeche International Airport on February 15, 2025.
The document also emphasizes that it is the exclusive authority of the Senate of the Republic to authorize the passage of foreign troops through national territory. The request has been forwarded to Committees for analysis and subsequent discussion, without the position of lawmakers on this matter being known so far.
On the other hand, on December 20, 2024, a decree was published in the Official Journal of the Federation authorizing the president to allow the entry of a delegation of U.S. troops to strengthen the capacity of the Special Operations Forces of the Secretariat of National Defense. This group of 11 instructor elements from the Seventh Special Forces Group of U.S. Northern Command will conduct training at Mexican facilities scheduled from January 27 to March 27, 2025.
According to the decree, these elements may enter Mexico starting January 27 with the obligation to leave the country no later than March 28. Additionally, it stipulates that the Secretariat of National Defense must submit a report to the Senate of the Republic on the results of the event within 30 calendar days after its conclusion. This decree came into force on December 18, 2024, with its publication in the Official Journal of the Federation.
