American Green Berets have arrived in Mexico as part of a military training mission aimed at improving the Mexican Marine Infantry’s ability to combat drug cartels. The effort, authorized by Mexico’s Senate, is part of an ongoing agreement between President Claudia Sheinbaum and President Donald Trump to curb cartel activity and drug smuggling.
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, scheduled to run from February 17 to March 30, is taking place at the Luis Carpizo naval facility in Campeche. The 7th Special Forces Group, known for operations in Latin America and Afghanistan, will oversee instruction on both conventional and unconventional combat tactics.
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
Sen. Alejandro Moreno Cardenas, head of Mexico’s Senate Naval Ministry Commission, confirmed that the Green Berets landed in Campeche two days before the program began. The Senate commission approved the mission without opposition following a request from Sheinbaum.
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
Mexican cartels control the majority of illegal narcotics entering the US and are key intermediaries for drug traffickers from other countries, including China. According to reports, fentanyl precursors from China are processed in Mexican labs before being smuggled north.
Trump recently designated Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and has pushed for stronger enforcement, warning of potential tariffs if Mexico does not take sufficient action. Meanwhile, the US has committed to increasing efforts to stop firearms from being smuggled into Mexico.
Scott Stewart, vice president of intelligence at TorchStone Global, clarified that the Green Berets’ mission is strictly for training purposes. “It’s not like we are seeing the deployment of combat troops or combat aircraft,” he said. Mexican media previously reported sightings of an American spy plane off the coast of Baja California, though the Mexican government denied any unauthorized surveillance activity.
