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-Editorial
The escalation of efforts to combat Mexican drug cartels has intensified. The United States has increased its use of advanced surveillance aircraft along the southern border. Over the past two weeks, the U.S. military has conducted at least 18 reconnaissance missions utilizing high-tech spy planes, including the Navy’s P-8 Poseidon and the high-altitude U-2, traditionally employed for monitoring global adversaries such as China and Russia.
This surge in aerial surveillance aligns with President Donald Trump’s directive to bolster border security and deter drug smuggling operations.
General Gregory Guillot, head of U.S. Northern Command, emphasized the importance of enhanced airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to gather actionable intelligence on cartel activities. He also highlighted the need for increased maritime collaboration with the Coast Guard to address the multifaceted threat posed by these organizations.
The intensified U.S. surveillance has raised concerns in Mexico. President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged that while these flights occur over U.S. territory, there is a desire for more transparency regarding their operations. She expressed doubts about the likelihood of U.S. military action against the cartels, citing potential violations of Mexican sovereignty.
Concurrently, Mexican drug cartels have reportedly escalated their tactics by authorizing the use of weaponized drones against U.S. Border Patrol agents. These “kamikaze” drones, equipped with explosives, pose a new and dangerous threat to U.S. personnel along the border.
In response to these developments, U.S. lawmakers are advocating for enhanced counter-drone measures. Senator Joni Ernst emphasized the necessity of securing U.S. airspace to prevent unauthorized drone incursions by cartels and other adversaries. Proposed legislation aims to grant the Pentagon authority to address these aerial threats effectively.
The voter surveillance is strong in Texas
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Military Department to deploy the Texas Tactical Border Force to the Rio Grande Valley, Jan. 27, 2025. They will support U.S. Customs and Border Protection border patrol agents with security efforts as part of President Donald J. Trump’s security initiatives
The 136th Airlift Wing, a unit of the Texas Air National Guard based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, and the base are supporting the deployment of the border force.
The border force surged an additional 400 troops from the Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston areas and mobilized CH-47 Chinook helicopters and C-130J aircraft assigned to the 136th Airlift Wing.
“Our base facilitated the transport of 200 Texas National Guard personnel using four Chinooks and two C-130Js to the southern border in compliance with Governor Abbott’s directive,” said Navy Lt. Cmdr. William Husky, NAS JRB Fort Worth deputy operations officer.
The deployment reinforces ongoing efforts to address border security and collaborate with federal authorities to protect the territorial integrity of the United States.
La intensificación de los esfuerzos para combatir a los cárteles de la droga en México se ha incrementado. Estados Unidos ha aumentado el uso de aeronaves de vigilancia avanzada a lo largo de la frontera sur. En las últimas dos semanas, el ejército estadounidense ha llevado a cabo al menos 18 misiones de reconocimiento utilizando aviones espía de alta tecnología, incluidos el P-8 Poseidón de la Marina y el U-2 de gran altitud, tradicionalmente empleados para monitorear a adversarios globales como China y Rusia.