To bolster regional security and enhance military cooperation, the U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is set to deploy to Mexico to provide specialized training to the Mexican Marine Infantry. This initiative underscores the deepening defense ties between the two nations and aims to strengthen Mexico’s capabilities in addressing both conventional and unconventional threats.
A Strategic Partnership
The partnership between the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Green Berets and the Mexican Marine Infantry is set to begin on February 17, 2025, marking a major step in U.S.-Mexico military cooperation. This mission is designed to strengthen the capabilities of Mexican forces, equipping them with advanced skills in both conventional and non-conventional combat.
The training will take place at the Luis Carpizo naval facility in Campeche from February 17 to March 30, 2025. It has been officially approved by the Mexican Senate’s Naval Ministry Commission and will be conducted under the supervision of the Mexican Defense Ministry (SEDENA). This ensures that while the training benefits from U.S. military expertise, it remains aligned with Mexico’s national defense priorities.
A total of 11 Green Berets from the 7th Special Forces Group will take part in the mission. They will bring their own weapons, ammunition, and equipment, providing hands-on instruction to Mexican marine infantry troops. This collaboration builds on past joint training efforts, such as the TRADEWINDS exercise in 2022, where Green Berets worked with Mexican forces on operations including boat familiarization, swim tests, and combat water survival.
Beyond training, this partnership is part of a broader U.S.-Mexico agreement aimed at tackling drug cartels and security threats. A key focus is preventing weapons trafficking into Mexico, a persistent challenge in the region.
While this collaboration highlights Mexico’s commitment to improving its military readiness, it also underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing national sovereignty with the benefits of foreign military cooperation. This evolving relationship between the two nations reflects their shared interest in addressing transnational security concerns like drug trafficking and organized crime.
Training Objectives
The primary focus of this mission is to provide the Mexican Marine Infantry with advanced training in various domains, including:
- Counterinsurgency Operations: Developing strategies to combat irregular warfare tactics employed by non-state actors.
- Urban Warfare: Enhancing skills necessary for operations in densely populated areas, a critical aspect given the urbanized landscapes where many security challenges arise.
- Intelligence Gathering and Analysis: Improving capabilities to collect and interpret actionable intelligence, essential for preemptive and reactive operations.
- Special Reconnaissance: Training in covert operations to gather information on enemy positions and movements without direct engagement.
- Amphibious Assault Techniques: Given Mexico’s extensive coastline, refining skills related to operations launched from the sea is paramount.
The Mexican Marine Infantry: An Overview
The Mexican Marine Infantry, also known as the Naval Infantry Force, is an essential part of the Mexican Navy. With around 20,000 personnel, it plays a critical role in national defense and security operations, often taking on missions to protect the country’s coastal areas and major waterways.
The force is organized into 30 Naval Infantry Battalions, each consisting of a command group, three rifle companies, a support weapons company, and a services company, totaling 628 personnel per battalion. In addition to these battalions, the Marine Infantry includes specialized units such as a paratroop battalion, a battalion assigned to the Presidential Guard Brigade, two Fast Reaction Forces with six battalions each, and three Special Forces groups. These specialized units provide additional capabilities for rapid response and high-risk operations.
The primary responsibilities of the Mexican Marine Infantry include securing ports, patrolling coastal areas, and ensuring the protection of key waterways. They also help enforce National Service obligations for young Mexicans through 23 National Service Training Units. Their units are built for mobility and firepower, allowing them to maintain operational effectiveness even when outnumbered. They are not solely infantry-based but include a mix of weaponry for both direct and indirect combat engagements.
Strategically, the Marine Infantry already plays a significant role in combating drug cartels and addressing internal security threats. They frequently take part in high-profile operations alongside other branches of the Mexican Armed Forces to maintain stability and fight organized crime. As part of the Mexican Navy, they operate under the Naval Secretariat (SEMAR) and ultimately report to the President of Mexico, who serves as the commander-in-chief of all military forces. Their expertise and capabilities make them a crucial force in Mexico’s ongoing efforts to enhance national security.
Historical Context of U.S.-Mexico Military Collaboration
The 7th Special Forces Group (7th SFG) has a long and complicated history in Mexico and Central America, dating back to the 1960s. Over the years, they have been involved in training local forces, conducting counter-narcotics missions, and even participating in military interventions. Their presence in the region has often been part of broader U.S. efforts to combat insurgencies, drug trafficking, and regional instability.
The group’s involvement in Latin America began in May 1962 when Company D was deployed to Fort Gulick, Panama, to help establish the 8th Special Forces Group. This move marked the expansion of U.S. Army Special Forces operations in the region and set the stage for decades of collaboration with local military forces.
During the 1980s, the 7th SFG played a major role in El Salvador, where they helped grow the country’s armed forces from 12,000 to 55,000 troops. Their training efforts were aimed at countering communist-backed guerrilla groups in the region. In Honduras, they assisted in strengthening the Honduran military, training them in counter-insurgency tactics to defend against potential invasions from neighboring Nicaragua and suppress guerrilla movements within the country.
The 7th SFG also took part in counter-narcotics operations throughout South America, particularly in the Andean Ridge countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. Their missions aimed to disrupt drug trafficking operations and curb the violence that came with the drug trade. In Panama, they played a key role in efforts to remove dictator Manuel Noriega. They conducted reconnaissance operations during an attempted coup in October 1989 and later participated in Operation Just Cause, which led to Noriega’s capture in early 1990.
In more recent years, the relationship between the 7th SFG and Mexico has evolved. In December 2023, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador requested Senate approval for U.S. military personnel to provide training in Mexico. This initiative involves 11 members of the 7th Special Forces Group and was scheduled to take place from January 23 to March 21, 2024. The program, titled Strengthening the Capacities of the Special Forces of the Defense Ministry, reflected a more pragmatic approach to military collaboration, balancing Mexico’s need for U.S. military expertise with its concerns over national sovereignty.
However, this partnership is not without controversy. Mexico has historically been sensitive to U.S. military involvement within its borders, and López Obrador himself has been critical of U.S. anti-narcotics operations in the past. Additionally, past military training efforts have sometimes had unintended consequences.
Some former members of the notorious Los Zetas cartel were originally part of Mexico’s elite military forces and received training from the 7th Special Forces Group before defecting to form one of the most violent criminal organizations in Mexico.
This history highlights the complexities of military cooperation and the challenges of ensuring that elite training does not fall into the wrong hands.
As the 7th Special Forces Group continues its collaboration with Mexico, both nations will have to navigate these historical challenges carefully, ensuring that their partnership strengthens security efforts without repeating past mistakes.
Addressing Contemporary Security Challenges
The upcoming training program by the 7th Special Forces Group (7th SFG) for the Mexican Marines aims to enhance their ability to handle Mexico’s ongoing security challenges. The training will focus on both conventional and unconventional combat techniques, which are crucial in tackling the country’s complex and evolving threats.
One major benefit of this training is the development of advanced tactical skills. The 7th SFG will teach Mexican Marines essential combat techniques, including map reading, communications, and handling both light and heavy weapons. These skills are critical for conducting successful operations against well-armed criminal organizations. Additionally, the training will include unconventional warfare tactics, helping the Marines deal with highly adaptable and elusive criminal groups that often use guerrilla-style tactics.
The program will also place a strong emphasis on marksmanship, with U.S. Special Forces providing weapons training to improve accuracy and effectiveness in real-world combat situations. Another important aspect of the training is counter-narcotics expertise. Given the 7th SFG’s experience in disrupting drug trafficking networks, the Mexican Marines will gain valuable insight into strategies for targeting cartel operations.
Beyond direct combat training, the special operations planning segment will teach the Mexican Marines how to effectively organize and execute complex missions. This could significantly improve their ability to go after high-level criminal leaders and dismantle cartel structures.
While this training will certainly enhance the Marines’ combat capabilities, Mexico’s security challenges go beyond military readiness. The country continues to struggle with issues such as powerful transnational criminal organizations, corruption within law enforcement, and human rights concerns. There are also growing debates about the increasing role of the military in public security, with concerns that it may blur the lines between military and civilian law enforcement.
Ultimately, the success of this training will depend on how well the Mexican Marines apply their new skills and whether they can operate effectively within Mexico’s broader security strategy. Addressing the deeper issues of corruption and socioeconomic factors contributing to organized crime will remain just as important as improving military capabilities.
Broader Implications for Regional Security
The regional security landscape in 2025 is shaping up to be complex, with significant implications not only for Mexico but also for its neighbors, especially the United States. One of the biggest challenges is the growing influence of organized crime. Powerful transnational criminal organizations continue to operate across borders, and their activities—such as drug trafficking, violence, and corruption—could increasingly spill over into neighboring countries, further destabilizing the region.
Another major concern is migration pressures. If security conditions in Mexico worsen, more people may be forced to leave their homes, either relocating within Mexico or seeking to cross into the United States. This could put a strain on resources and heighten diplomatic tensions between the two nations.
Additionally, uncertainty surrounding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could impact North American economic relations. With a major review set for 2026, political shifts in both Mexico and the U.S. could lead to more protectionist policies, potentially weakening economic integration in the region.
At the same time, China’s growing economic influence in Mexico is becoming a concern for the U.S. Washington is wary of Mexico’s increasing trade and investment ties with China, which could lead to tensions and complicate economic and security cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico.
Another key issue is the militarization of public security in Mexico. As the country moves toward a security model that relies more on the military, there are growing concerns about human rights and the erosion of civilian oversight in law enforcement. This shift could make it harder for Mexico to align with international security norms and collaborate effectively with allies.
Finally, Mexico’s judicial reforms—which include electing federal judges—could further complicate the country’s legal landscape. Some critics worry that these changes could undermine the independence of the judiciary, creating uncertainty and making regional legal cooperation more difficult.
Together, these factors suggest that 2025 will be a challenging year for regional security. To manage these risks, Mexico and its allies will need careful diplomacy, strategic coordination, and a commitment to balancing security concerns with economic and political stability.
Summary
The deployment of an element of the 7th Special Forces Group to Mexico for training the Marine Infantry is an important step in strengthing U.S.-Mexico defense relations. As both nations confront evolving security challenges, such partnerships are essential in fostering resilience, enhancing operational capabilities, and ensuring the safety and stability of the region.
