What Is the U.S. Objective in Mexico? Deployment of Troops and Intelligence Officers Under Review

NBC News reported that the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to send troops and intelligence officers to Mexico to carry out operations against drug cartels.

According to Rokna, the network quoted two current U.S. government officials—who spoke on condition of anonymity—as saying that the operation would include ground missions, and initial training phases for the forces involved have already begun.

Sources noted that the deployment of forces to Mexico is not imminent, as discussions on the scope of the operation are ongoing and a final decision has not been reached.

The U.S. troops expected to take part in the mission will mainly come from the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and will operate under the U.S. intelligence community’s Title 50 authorities.

Two current and two former U.S. government officials said the American forces in Mexico would primarily use drone strikes targeting drug production sites as well as cartel leaders and members.

NBC News also reported that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has granted the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) permission to expand surveillance flights against drug cartels.

The Sheinbaum administration has additionally deployed 10,000 troops to the U.S. border, increased seizures of the synthetic drug fentanyl, and extradited 55 senior members of drug trafficking cartels to the United States.

In recent months, the United States has stationed military equipment and forces in the Caribbean Sea near Venezuela, claiming to have conducted strikes against boats carrying narcotics. These operations have reportedly resulted in 65 deaths so far.