Mexico and US conduct counter-drone operation at border — Mexico News Daily
Mexico and the United States are conducting a joint counter-drone operation, “Aguila Alta,” along the section of the border between Tijuana in the Mexican state of Baja California and San Diego in California. Its goal is to detect and neutralize commercial drones that criminal groups, according to Mexico’s Ministry of National Defense, use to monitor law enforcement officers while moving people and drugs into the United States, Mexico News Daily reports.
Two phases of the operation
The operation runs from August 31 to September 21 within the framework of the bilateral Mexico-US security implementation group. It is also linked to simultaneous reconnaissance activities along the shared border, conducted on both sides by the armed forces of the two countries and US law enforcement agencies.
The first phase took place from August 31 to September 2 in Tijuana and San Diego. During it, the sides held coordination exercises on countering drones, after which they simultaneously conducted ground reconnaissance — each on its own territory.
The second phase began on September 7 and is to continue until September 21. It involves deploying forces in border areas of both countries, using fixed and mobile equipment to counter drones.
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Drones used for surveillance
Mexico’s defense minister, General Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, said that the US side had informed the Mexican government that, in the border region, drones are mainly used by people who transport migrants to the United States. According to him, these are commercial devices used to search for routes where US security forces are not present.
Three days before the operation was announced, US Northern Command reported that the Joint Task Force Southern Border had neutralized more than 300 unmanned systems along the US-Mexico border since the beginning of the year. More than 100 of them were neutralized in August. The US command assessed these devices as linked to illegal activities, including smuggling and surveillance of military personnel and law enforcement officers.
Last month, Mexico and the United States also concluded a defense agreement on new technologies that gives Mexico’s defense ministry access to purchasing drones and counter-drone equipment through the US Army’s online marketplace.
