The CIA has intensified its drone surveillance operations over Mexico, focusing on locating fentanyl production facilities linked to Mexican drug cartels that have been designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations by the U.S. government. Reports indicate that these unarmed drone flights, which began during the Biden administration, have been accelerated under CIA Director John Ratcliffe following the terrorist designation made by former President Donald Trump.
According to a U.S. official cited by the New York Times, the drone flights "go well into sovereign Mexico," raising questions about the extent of U.S. operations within Mexican airspace. The CIA is currently using MQ-9 Reaper drones, which are capable of carrying out precision strikes but are not armed for these missions. Instead, the agency is focused on gathering intelligence and sharing it with Mexican authorities.
The decision to designate certain Mexican cartels, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, as terrorist organizations is set to be officially announced on February 19. This designation could potentially pave the way for more direct U.S. military actions against these groups, although the current operations are limited to intelligence gathering.
The Mexican government has expressed concerns regarding these overflights. Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla commented on the situation, suggesting that while espionage cannot be ruled out, the U.S. did not violate Mexican airspace. The CIA has not publicly addressed whether it informed the Mexican government prior to conducting these surveillance flights.
The ongoing conflict with drug cartels in Mexico has led to widespread violence, including mass killings and kidnappings, prompting the U.S. to take a more aggressive stance in combating these organizations. The CIA’s involvement is part of a broader strategy to address the escalating threat posed by narco-trafficking in the region.
As the situation develops, the implications of U.S. military involvement in Mexico remain a topic of significant discussion, particularly in light of the historical context of U.S.-Mexico relations and the complexities of addressing drug-related violence.