Mexico Deploys 600 Troops to U.S. Border Areas Amid Rising Violence
In response to escalating violence, including attacks on military installations and mass kidnappings, Mexico has dispatched 600 troops to border regions adjacent to the United States.
According to reports, the soldiers have been deployed to Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, states bordering Texas.
An international security expert noted that these areas were previously under the control of the Zetas drug cartel, notorious for its brutality.
Though the Zetas’ influence has diminished due to arrests of key leaders, splinter groups like the Northeast cartel and Zetas Old School continue to operate, intensifying competition in the region.
Recent weeks have witnessed a surge in violence, including the assassination of mayoral candidate Noe Ramos Ferretiz in Tamaulipas and an attack on a Mexican army base in Miguel Aleman.
Additionally, armed clashes among rival gangs have erupted, and numerous individuals were kidnapped in Nuevo Leon, with many subsequently released or rescued.
Michael Ballard, Vice President of Intelligence at Global Guardian, cautioned that while Zetas’ control has lessened, their remnants remain active in key drug trafficking routes towards the U.S. border. He advised against unnecessary travel to Veracruz or Tamaulipas due to persistent violence.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s policy of engaging cartels with “hugs, not bullets” has drawn controversy, especially after describing cartels as “respectful people” who primarily target each other.
Despite U.S. pressure to combat cartels, Obrador emphasizes a sovereign approach, prioritizing internal policies over foreign directives.
