Mexico and US Military Exercises in the Pacific

Military exercises between both countries are held several times a year. In the case of Mexico, the President must request the entry and exit of military personnel into the national territory from the Senate. On one hand, President Claudia Sheinbaum promotes a sovereign vision and rejects the intervention of foreign law enforcement forces on Mexican soil. Meanwhile, her American counterpart, Donald Trump, repeatedly mentioned the offer he made to Sheinbaum for his country's armed forces to participate in the fight against organized crime. Are the exercises between the US and Mexico new? For decades, Mexico and the United States have had an agreement to train the armed forces and police agents. A letter details all aspects of the practices to be conducted, the length of stay or departure of military personnel, their location, if they will arrive with equipment, and other data. The information provided by the Northern Command specifies whether the destroyer arrived at any Mexican port. Mexican and American sailors conducted a knowledge exchange aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) in the Pacific Ocean, reported the US Northern Command. The exercises between the troops took place in April as part of the “Southern Seas 2026” program, which aims to strengthen capabilities, interoperability, and reinforce maritime alliances. Meanwhile, on the Mexican side, the Reformador-class frigate ARM Benito Juárez from the Navy, designed for surveillance and defense missions, was used. What was the purpose of the exercises between the Mexican Army and the US? Reportedly, the marines carried out various protocols and drills for boarding, searching, and seizing other vessels. The US Northern Command stated that this training is a symbol of the “long history of collaboration” between the two nations. “Together, we continue to improve operational readiness and coordination to address shared maritime challenges,” stated US authorities. Last month, Mexican Navy (Marina) sailors aboard the Reformador-class frigate ARM Benito Juárez (POLA 101) conducted a subject matter expert exchange with the visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) team aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG… Is Mexico the only country the US collaborates with in the Southern Seas 2026 program? The Southern Seas exercises began in 2007, and since then, US marines have met with and visited ports in various Latin American countries, including Mexico. The objective is to “improve coordination, collaboration, and interoperability with the United States Navy” to counter the trafficking of drugs, arms, and people by sea. These exercises are part of the collaboration between the two governments.