President Claudia Sheinbaum is sending 10,000 National Guard (GN) troops to Mexico’s northern border after reaching an agreement with United States President Donald Trump. The agreement resulted in a one-month “pause” on the 25% tariff the U.S. government had planned to impose on Mexican exports starting Tuesday.
At her Tuesday morning press conference, Sheinbaum confirmed the troop deployment has begun. National Guard personnel from areas with lower security needs, like Campeche, are being relocated to the border. Some troops previously stationed in the southern parts of northern border states are also being moved closer to the U.S. border.
Sheinbaum emphasized that this redeployment won’t compromise Mexico’s overall security, noting that the National Guard has 120,000 total members. She said the border deployment serves both countries’ interests – helping prevent fentanyl trafficking while also strengthening security in border regions like the Ribereña highway in Tamaulipas. She cited the recent discovery of seven bodies in San Luis Río Colorado, Sonora, as evidence of the need for increased border security.
Regarding a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance plane detected near Cabo San Lucas, Baja California Sur, Sheinbaum stressed that the aircraft remained in international airspace, 83 kilometers southwest of the cape. She dismissed any connection between the flight and her agreement with Trump.