US Green Berets to Train Mexican Military Through Mid-July

Mexico allows 12 members of US Army's 7th Special Forces Group to enter country for training purposes.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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The Mexican government has authorized 12 members of the U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group to enter the country and help train its military personnel. The American special forces will remain in Mexico through July 15, working at military bases near Mexico City and in the state of Quintana Roo. This type of military cooperation between the two countries is not uncommon, with over 1,600 instances of U.S. forces training Mexican service members in the past 10 years.

Why it matters

The joint training exercises between U.S. and Mexican military forces underscore the close security cooperation between the neighboring countries, particularly around issues like border security, counternarcotics, and counterterrorism. This collaboration has been a priority for both the current and previous Mexican administrations.

The details

The upcoming training will cover a range of scenarios, including weapons of mass destruction, jungle warfare, and covert special forces operations. Mexico's Secretary of Defense stated that President Claudia Sheinbaum will provide the results of the training to the Mexican Senate once the American forces depart.

  • The U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group will be in Mexico through July 15, 2026.
  • Two weeks ago, the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team 2 also moved into Mexico for training purposes.

The players

7th Special Forces Group

A unit of the United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets, that specializes in unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, and counter-terrorism operations.

Claudia Sheinbaum

The current President of Mexico, who will reportedly provide the results of the U.S.-Mexico military training to the Mexican Senate.

Andrés Manuel López Obrador

The former President of Mexico, during whose administration there were 16 instances of foreign military personnel coming to Mexico for training purposes.

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What’s next

President Claudia Sheinbaum will reportedly provide the results of the U.S.-Mexico military training to the Mexican Senate once the American forces depart in mid-July.

The takeaway

The ongoing security cooperation between the U.S. and Mexico, including joint military training exercises, highlights the countries' shared interests in addressing regional challenges like border security, organized crime, and counterterrorism. This collaboration has been a priority for both nations, despite occasional political tensions.