Mexico is making further overtures to avert President Donald J. Trump’s imposition of tariffs on exports to America. In their latest move, at President Claudia Sheibaum’s urging, the Mexican Senate approved on Tuesday the entry of a U.S. Special Forces group into the country, ostensibly to train Mexico’s marines as part of the “Strengthening the Capacity of the Special Operations Forces of the Navy” program.
The training arrangement—which was approved by a unanimous vote—will see a contingent of U.S. military personnel serving as advisors and trainers for Mexico’s marine forces, with a special focus on combating the country’s drug cartels. A similar agreement was approved during the six-year term of Mexican President López Obrador, which saw 11 U.S. military personnel enter Mexico to oversee marine training.
Upon final approval by Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior and the Board of Directors of the Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Union, the U.S. military personnel will oversee training exercises from February 17 to March 28, 2025.
“With the authorization of that legislative body, a delegation made up of 10 members of the Seventh Special Forces Group of the United States of America would enter the national territory, which will carry the weapons, ammunition, material, and special equipment necessary for joint combined training,” President Sheinbaum said. The training will primarily focus on amphibious assaults, aquatic combat, and conventional and unconventional combat tactics.
The move comes as President Trump has increased pressure on both Mexico and Canada to crack down on illegal drug trafficking into the United States. Earlier this month, Trump announced and then paused the imposition of 25 percent tariffs on exports from America’s northern and southern neighbors after both countries indicated they would undertake new measures to curb the flow of illicit drugs.
