Unanimously, with 94 votes in favor, the Senate of the Republic granted, on March 19, 2025, authorization for the entry into Mexican territory of 155 members of the Marine Corps Forces of the United States Army Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) to participate in the “Fénix 2025 Bilateral Amphibious Exercise.”
President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s request indicated that a delegation of 155 members of the Marines from the U.S. Army Northern Command would enter Mexican territory, with organic weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and special equipment.
The “Fénix 2025 Bilateral Amphibious Exercise” would take place from March 24 to April 23 of this year. It would be carried out in three phases: the first from March 24 to April 1; The second, from April 7 to 23, and the third, from April 21 to 23, will be held at the facilities of the Mexican Navy’s Regional Training Center Number 4 (CENERAG-4), located on Santa Margarita Island, Baja California Sur.
In their ruling, the senators emphasized that this was an opportunity to strengthen training in the application of tactical procedures, strengthen ties of friendship, and enhance Mexico’s image in the international community.
The Secretary of the Navy Commission, Rolando Rodrigo Zapata Bello, stated that this ruling was relevant to national security, as it involves the entry of U.S. Marine Corps personnel, which sought to strengthen amphibious response capabilities essential for the maritime defense of Mexican territory and to guarantee internal security in the event of any crisis.
The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) senator indicated that the participation of elements of the Mexican Navy (SEMAR), along with those of the United States Infantry, would allow for crucial progress in interoperability, as it would optimize joint training in surface, land, and air operations, with the aim of strengthening logistical coordination and the compatibility of command, control, and communication systems.
Likewise, the Senate Plenary approved the departure, outside the national borders, of 53 elements of the Mexican Navy, as well as the ARM “Isla Tiburón” (BAL-01) logistics support vessel, to transport Navy personnel from the U.S. Army Northern Command to Mexico. The vessel will depart on March 28, 2025, from Santa Margarita Island, Baja California Sur, to Camp Pendleton, San Diego, California, and return to the country on April 6 of the same year.
Furthermore, the Senate Board of Directors reported that it received a letter from the Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) requesting authorization to allow U.S. military personnel to enter the country to participate in the training called “Joint Combined Exercise Training (JCET).”
The training will take place from April 7 to May 3, 2025, at the Regional Training Center of the First Military Region—located in San Miguel de los Jagüeyes, State of Mexico—and from May 4 to 15 of the same year at the National Training Center, located in Santa Gertrudis, Chihuahua. The request was forwarded to the Senate’s National Defense Committee.
On February 11, 2025, the Senate unanimously approved, with 107 votes in favor, a ruling authorizing a team of 10 U.S. Special Forces Marines to enter Mexican territory to support training for members of the Mexican Navy.
The Marines were scheduled to arrive on February 17, 2025, and would be stationed at the Marine Infantry Specialized Training and Development Center, based in San Luis Carpizo, Campeche, where they would remain until March 28 of this year.
Source: zetatijuana
