Mexico authorizes entry of 139 US troops for training operations
The group will be stationed at the Santa Gertrudis military base in Chihuahua, months after controversy erupted over the presence of CIA agents in the northern state
The Mexican Senate on Monday authorized the entry into the country of a group of 139 U.S. military personnel. The operation, intended for training purposes, will take place at the Santa Gertrudis military base in Chihuahua between September 20 and 30.
The troops’ arrival comes just months after a political and diplomatic controversy over the presence of CIA agents in Chihuahua. It also takes place as Mexico and the United States continue to cooperate on security issues, while concerns over interference from the Donald Trump administration continue to shape the bilateral relationship.
The Mexican Senate said that the arrival of U.S. troops, a routine exercise within the framework of cooperation between the two countries’ armed forces, “will not only have a positive impact on strengthening individual and collective preparedness, but will also contribute to improving bilateral military cooperation mechanisms between both nations.”
The request submitted by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, designated as an “urgent resolution” for the entry of the military personnel, was approved unanimously by the Senate with 75 votes in favor.
The U.S. contingent is made up of soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army. They are scheduled to arrive at the training base next Thursday and have authorization to remain in Santa Gertrudis, located 320 miles south of the border, until the end of September. They will enter Mexico carrying weapons aboard a U.S. Air Force aircraft.
This is the fourth time this year that the Senate has authorized the entry of troops from its northern neighbor, although it is the first deployment involving more than 100 personnel. The first request from Sheinbaum came in February, when the chamber approved the entry of 19 foreign troops, with 105 votes in favor, to take part in “a specialized training exercise” in collaboration with the Mexican Navy’s Special Operations Unit in the state of Campeche.
That same month, lawmakers also authorized the entry of 12 members of the U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) for training activities. The most recent authorization came in April, allowing 12 U.S. service members to help enhance “the capabilities of special operations units” between July 15 and December 15, 2026.
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