Mexico and France signed a Letter of Intent with the aim of strengthening bilateral cooperation in maritime security and the prevention of illicit activities on their coasts and in ports. The agreement was signed by Admiral Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, Secretary of the Navy, and by Jean-Noël Barrot, Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty of France, on the occasion of French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to Mexico. In his X account, Morales Ángeles indicated that this signature seeks to strengthen cooperation and enhance joint capabilities against transnational criminal organizations. According to the Secretariat of the Navy, the Letter establishes collaboration mechanisms in areas such as the fight against illegal narcotics, the control of chemical precursors used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs, the fight against smuggling and other illicit activities that both countries agree to jointly. The document also provides for the exchange of information and intelligence through maritime customs coordinated by the Navy, in order to identify the structures and operational methods of organizations that traffic illicit cargo in containers, respecting national legislation and international treaties, particularly in the area of data protection and confidentiality. In addition, the Letter includes training and development programs for personnel from both countries, through seminars, workshops and conferences, with the aim of improving institutional capabilities in the face of maritime security challenges.
