Mexico mobilizes 10,000 troops to border under U.S. tariff agreement

Mexico is deploying 10,000 troops to the U.S. border under a deal that paused Trump’s tariffs, aiming to curb fentanyl trafficking and illegal migration.

🔹 Troop Deployment Begins
Hundreds of Mexican soldiers were mobilized on Tuesday to border hotspots, with full deployment set to reach 10,000 troops. According to government and military sources, soldiers will be stationed in high-risk areas across Baja California, Sonora, and Tamaulipas, known for drug and arms smuggling routes.

🔹 Trade War Averted
The military action follows a deal announced on Monday, in which U.S. President Donald Trump paused his planned 25% tariffs on Mexican imports. In return, Mexico agreed to a major crackdown on fentanyl smuggling and tighter border controls.

Mexico had vowed retaliatory tariffs if the U.S. proceeded with its plan.
The agreement includes a U.S. commitment to prevent the flow of high-powered weapons into Mexico.

🔹 Economic & Security Concerns
While the agreement prevents an immediate trade war, analysts caution that deploying large numbers of troops to the border may leave other regions vulnerable to cartel violence.

“The president had a gun to her head to make such a decision,” said Andrés Sumano, a researcher at Mexico’s Northern Border College (Colef).
A trade war could have sent Mexico into recession, while U.S. consumers would have faced higher prices on cars, trucks, and other Mexican imports.

🔹 What’s Next?
The troop deployment is expected to expand in the coming weeks as Mexico intensifies efforts to meet U.S. demands on security. However, concerns remain over whether this shift will weaken security elsewhere in the country.

Copied