President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico requests authorization from the nation's Senate to permit the entry of U.S. special forces to participate in training exercises and to help improve and strengthen the capabilities of the operational units of the Mexican Navy, according to Mexican news outlet, Milenio.
According to a letter directed to the Permanent Commission of the Congress of the Union, Sheinbaum is asking for Senate authorization to grant the entry of a small contingent of U.S. Navy SEALs and 10 more operators from the seventh Special Forces Group aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft into national territory.
U.S. forces, in conjunction with Mexican counterparts, will participate in a military training event titled Improving the capacity of Special Operations Forces, which will be aimed at "strengthening the military relations of both countries and promoting comprehensive programs that increase skills and operational capacity with official U.S. forces."
The exercises will be broken down into three phases and will take place from January 19 to April 15 of 2026, and will consist of land, air, and sea operations across multiple Mexican states.
The request from Sheinbaum is also asking for Senate authorization approving the deployment of Mexican special forces operators to a twin event being held at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, United States, from January 18 to March 13, 2026.
The notion of U.S. military personnel entering Mexican territory has stirred tremendous controversy in Mexican politics in recent months after President Trump warned that his administration is considering sending ground forces and special forces operators into Mexican territory to take on the drug cartels.
The U.S. administration has been critical of the Mexican security apparatus and has expressed disapproval for the Mexican government's failure to weaken the power and influence of local drug trafficking organizations.
President Trump has accused the Mexican government of being "controlled by drug cartels."
Fervent Mexican nationalists, on the other hand, suspicious of any possibility of U.S. military involvement in the domestic affairs of Mexican security, scoffed at the idea of allowing North American military personnel in the country.
President Sheinbaum has even echoed that concern, and on multiple occasions throughout the year, rejected any offers by the Trump White House of sending U.S. troops on Mexican soil.
The entry of foreign troops into Mexican territory is required to go through the Mexican Senate for approval, in accordance with the Mexican constitution, and will be submitted to the upper house for debate.
