A team of US Army Green Berets has arrived in Mexico to train the country’s marine infantry in countering the influence of violent drug cartels. The Mexican Senate approved the program at the request of President Claudia Sheinbaum following negotiations with President Donald Trump.
US Special Forces will be landing in Mexico this week to train Mexican infantry after a Mexican Senate commission approved the measure:
“The Americans will come fully armed as part of a mission to train the Mexican Navy’s Infantería de Marina (marine infantry) on conventional… pic.twitter.com/vHVddDrdm9
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) February 17, 2025
The training, led by the 7th Special Forces Group, is being conducted at the Luis Carpizo naval facility in Campeche and will run from February 17 through March 30. The Green Berets, known for operations in Afghanistan and Latin America, will instruct Mexican troops in both traditional and unconventional combat techniques.
BREAKING: The Mexican Senate has approved the entry of United States Special Forces into Mexico starting this week.
This comes as President Trump continues his immense pressure on the Mexican government to take out the cartels.
The plan is for the Army's 7th Special Forces… pic.twitter.com/98Gz8tid0C
— George (@BehizyTweets) February 17, 2025
According to Sen. Alejandro Moreno Cardenas, president of Mexico’s Senate Naval Ministry Commission, the Green Berets landed in Campeche on a C-130 aircraft ahead of the mission. The commission gave unanimous approval to the plan without debate.
Special Forces have arrived in Mexico for a training exercise. Training Mexico’s Marines. 🇺🇸 & 🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/MSRMmSVa0L
— Salty 🇺🇸 El Kekistador🗡️ (@realSaltySeaDog) February 17, 2025
The US has long pushed for stronger enforcement against drug cartels, which control a significant portion of the illegal narcotics entering the country. Reports indicate that cartel operations also facilitate drug trafficking from other nations, particularly China, where fentanyl precursors are sourced before being processed in Mexican labs.
Trump recently issued an executive order labeling Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and has threatened new tariffs on Mexican imports if enforcement efforts are not increased. Meanwhile, the US has committed to cracking down on the smuggling of firearms into Mexico as part of the agreement.
Scott Stewart, vice president of intelligence at TorchStone Global, explained that the Green Berets are there strictly to train Mexican forces. “It’s not like we are seeing the deployment of combat troops or combat aircraft,” he said. Mexican news reports previously suggested an American spy plane had been spotted near Baja California, though the Mexican government denied unauthorized surveillance.
