Background on Key Figures and Relevance
The United States and Mexico have agreed to bolster investigations into fuel theft and drone usage by criminal organizations, as announced by Mexico’s Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores (SRE) on Tuesday.
This decision was made during the second meeting of the Group of Implementation of Security (GIS) between officials from both countries, held on December 11 in Mexico City. The gathering followed the Security Cooperation Program on Border Security and Law Enforcement.
Who’s Involved?
Key figures in these discussions include:
- Mexico’s Delegation: Roberto Velasco (Subsecretary for North America and Chargé d’Affaires of the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs), Marcela Figueroa (Executive Secretary of the National Public Security System), high-ranking officials from the Secretariat of Defense and the Secretariat of the Navy, Omar Reyes Colmenares (Head of the Financial Intelligence Unit), and representatives from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, as well as the Fiscal General de la República (Attorney General’s Office).
- US Delegation: Ronald Johnson (US Ambassador to Mexico), Katherine Dueholm (Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the Department of State), Andrea Goldbarg (Senior Director of the National Security Council at the White House), and high-ranking officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of Justice, Department of the Treasury, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
Key Actions and Ideas
During the meeting, both countries reviewed progress since their last encounter in McAllen, Texas, with a particular focus on arms trafficking.
Drone Usage by Criminal Organizations: The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) by criminal organizations for illicit activities was analyzed as an emerging global security challenge.
Cooperation Principles
Mexico reaffirmed its commitment to security cooperation with the US, based on principles such as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual trust, cooperation without subordination, and shared responsibility.
Both governments pledged to continue fostering constructive, firm, and results-oriented cooperation with an integral vision of security while respecting Mexico’s sovereignty and interests.
Next Steps
With these agreements, the US and Mexico aim to maximize the impact of coordinated actions leading up to their next GIS meeting in January 2026.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the purpose of this meeting? The primary goal is to strengthen investigations into fuel theft and drone usage by criminal organizations, as well as to review progress on border security and law enforcement cooperation.
- Who participated in the meeting? The Mexican delegation included high-ranking officials from various security and intelligence agencies, while the US delegation consisted of ambassadors, senior officials from multiple departments, and representatives from the White House National Security Council.
- What are the key areas of focus? The main topics discussed were fuel theft, drone usage by criminal organizations, and arms trafficking.
- What principles guide the cooperation between the US and Mexico? The cooperation is based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, mutual trust, cooperation without subordination, and shared responsibility.
