Overview
- The New York Times reports the push has been elevated to senior U.S. deliberations after renewed momentum following the January 3 operation in Venezuela.
- Washington’s proposal would place U.S. Special Operations troops or CIA personnel alongside Mexican forces on raids, with Americans providing intelligence support and making key tactical decisions.
- President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly reiterated that Mexico will not allow foreign troops, and officials offered expanded intelligence-sharing and a larger U.S. advisory role inside Mexican command centers.
- U.S. advisors are already embedded in Mexican military posts and CIA drone flights that began under Biden have expanded to map likely labs and track precursor chemicals entering Mexican ports.
- The Pentagon said it is prepared to execute presidential orders at any time, and some U.S. officials have advocated drone strikes on suspected labs, which Mexican officials warn would violate sovereignty.