Sovereign Surveillance: U.s. Drones in Mexico, Alliance or Invasion?

Mexico City.- The head of SEDENA, Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, has recently confirmed that U.S. drones operate in Mexican airspace. These drones, which are part of a cooperation program between Mexico and United States, have the primary purpose of gathering intelligence in the fight against drug trafficking and fentanyl production.

International Cooperation

Although the program was authorized by the Biden administration, and continued under Trump, it has raised questions about the true autonomy and sovereignty of Mexico in its own territory.

These MQ-9 Reaper drones, operated by the CIA, have been essential in recent operations, including significant arrests in Sinaloa, where they are believed to have impacted members of Los Chapitos.

Impact and Effectiveness

The information gathered by these missions has been crucial for making important arrests and seizures in the region.

According to the CIA, this collaboration has allowed not only arrests but also closer monitoring of cartel operations, especially in the production of synthetic drugs like fentanyl, which has been linked to an overdose crisis in United States, with more than 70,000 annual deaths.

Debate on Sovereignty

The presence of U.S. drones in Mexico has caused an intense debate about national sovereignty. Although the Mexican government, led by Claudia Sheinbaum, assures that this cooperation is essential to effectively combat drug trafficking, critical sectors argue that this could represent external oversight and control over Mexico's security capabilities.

Future of Cooperation

While some see these efforts as a necessary step to face common security challenges, others criticize Mexico's reliance on U.S. technology and support, arguing that it compromises the country's autonomy in critical security and foreign policy decisions.

Recent Operation Details

General Trevilla reported that the recent arrests in Culiacán, including key figures like ‘Wero Bryan’ and Kevin Alonso, are a direct result of the intelligence provided by these flights. These actions have demonstrated the effectiveness of the collaboration without U.S. elements intervening on the ground.

According to the general, the CIA flights are focused on locating fentanyl labs in Mexico, highlighting that supposedly any overflight is requested by Mexico and clearly authorized by the Armed Forces, ensuring that the information gathered is shared immediately and that according to him, it is not considered espionage, but a collection of technical and indispensable information for national security.

The head of the FGR, Alejandro Gertz Manero, has also highlighted the importance of this supposed cooperation, mentioning an operation in January in collaboration with the Federal Prosecutor's Office for the District of Arizona to dismantle a transnational drug trafficking organization.