Mexico’s Senate has unanimously approved the entry of 139 US military personnel into the country for joint training exercises in the northern state of Chihuahua.
The US troops are scheduled to participate in exercises at the Santa Gertrudis military base from September 20 to 30. Mexican authorities said the activities are intended to strengthen military capabilities and enhance cooperation between Mexico and the United States.
The personnel, drawn from the US Army’s 101st Airborne Division, will travel to Mexico with weapons aboard a US Air Force aircraft.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum requested the authorization through an urgent procedure. The Senate approved the request with 75 votes in favour.
This is the fourth authorization in 2026 allowing US military personnel to enter Mexico for training and represents the largest US contingent approved for such activities this year.
The exercises come amid closer security coordination between Mexico and the United States, particularly over drug trafficking and organized crime. Mexican officials have emphasized that such cooperation must respect the country’s sovereignty.
US forces are not permitted to carry out independent operations on Mexican territory and require authorization from Mexican authorities. Sheinbaum has repeatedly said Mexico is prepared to cooperate with Washington on security matters while opposing unilateral intervention.
Her administration has worked to improve coordination between Mexican and US security agencies on organized crime and drug trafficking.
The exercises will be held about 520 kilometres south of the US-Mexico border. The deployment also follows tensions earlier this year over the reported presence of US intelligence personnel in Chihuahua, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding foreign security activities in Mexico.
Despite these concerns, both countries have continued expanding cooperation in areas such as military training, intelligence sharing and border security.
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