In a new escalation of border tensions, the United States officially announced the detection and interception of drones belonging to Mexican drug traffickers that had entered US airspace, leading to the temporary closure of a vital airport in Texas. This incident sparked widespread controversy between Washington and Mexico City, amid conflicting accounts regarding the origin and nature of the drones.
Details of the incident and the American response
US authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the US military intercepted drones believed to belong to Mexican cartels, explaining the sudden closure of El Paso International Airport in Texas. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated via the X platform that the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense acted swiftly to neutralize the threat, emphasizing that there was no current risk to commercial travel after the reopening of the airspace, which had initially been closed for unspecified security reasons.
Mexico denies the allegations, and doubts surround the story
In contrast, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum denied that her country had any knowledge of drone activity on the border. "We have no information regarding the use of drones on the border," she stated at a press conference, adding that her government had launched an investigation to understand the circumstances surrounding the closure of the U.S. airport. This Mexican denial coincided with skepticism from U.S. lawmakers and media outlets. Democratic members of the House Transportation Committee suggested that the Pentagon might be responsible for the incident, possibly due to uncoordinated military testing or counter-drone measures, rather than a gang attack.
The evolution of cartel tactics: historical background
Historically and from a security perspective, the use of drones by Mexican drug cartels is not entirely new, though their penetration deep into the United States represents a dangerous development. For years, cartels like Jalisco New Generation and Sinaloa have been using modified commercial drones for surveillance and even to drop improvised explosive devices on their rivals within Mexico. Security experts suggest that these groups' shift toward aerial technology reflects their attempt to circumvent border walls and traditional controls for drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl.
Expected geopolitical repercussions
This incident carries significant political implications, particularly under the current US administration. This airspace incursion could provide President Donald Trump with a strong pretext to advance his hardline policies toward Mexico, which have included previous threats to designate cartels as terrorist organizations and launch military strikes inside Mexican territory. Washington's assertion that the incursion was carried out by "drug cartels" could accelerate the militarization of the border and increase diplomatic and economic pressure on the Sheinbaum government to take more stringent measures, potentially ushering in a new phase of tension in bilateral relations between the two neighbors.
