In recent days, increased flights by US Navy P-8 aircraft and US Air Force , high-altitude U-2 jets have taken place to survey the area along the southern US border. These aircraft were also joined by a USAF R-135 signal intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft to intercept cartel-related communications.
The drastic increase in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) flights comes following US President Donald Trump’s rebranding of drug cartels as national security threats.
A report on Monday by CNN outlined the recent activity:
“The US military has significantly increased its surveillance of Mexican drug cartels over the past two weeks, with sophisticated spy planes flying at least 18 missions over the southwestern US and in international airspace around the Baja peninsula, according to open-source data and three US officials familiar with the missions.”
Cross-Border Tensions and Reactions
Cartels have remained a constant source of crime and violence for decades, fortified by drug revenues and international networks. There are persistent rumors of cartel infiltration within the Mexican government, which complicates bilateral anti-cartel operations.
As the EurAsianTimes reported
“These deployments come as US President Donald Trump has waged a war against illegal immigrants and Fentanyl coming from Mexico. Earlier this month, Trump slapped additional tariffs against Mexico as punishment for its inability to control the flow of immigrants and drugs.”
No comments:
Post a Comment