In a unanimous 75-0 vote, the Mexican Senate formally granted President Claudia Sheinbaum authorization to allow 139 armed members of the United States Army into Mexican territory.
The military delegation will participate in a joint tactical exercise with the Mexican Armed Forces, scheduled from September 20 to 30, 2026, at the Santa Gertrudis National Training Center in Chihuahua.
Why Will the US Army Come to Mexico?
The deployment is part of the Joint Specialized Exercise, an initiative aimed at expanding the bilateral operational capabilities of both nations through strategic military planning and execution.
According to the official Senate resolution, all joint maneuvers will adhere strictly to principles of national sovereignty, territorial integrity, shared responsibility, and mutual trust, operating explicitly under a paradigm of strategic collaboration without subordination.
The program is designed to heighten both individual and collective preparedness while reinforcing cooperation between Mexico and the United States.
US Army to Come Armed to Chihuahua
Composed of personnel from the 101st Airborne Division, the U.S. contingent will arrive fully equipped with weaponry aboard a U.S. Air Force transport aircraft.
The unit is scheduled to land on September 20 at Military Air Zone No. 5 in Santa Gertrudis, remaining in the country for ten days before returning to the United States on September 30.
The Senate emphasized that the authorization is strictly limited to the duration and scope of this specific exercise, defining the explicit legal and operational boundaries governing the foreign troops’ temporary presence on Mexican soil.
