Announced by Ambassador Ronald Johnson, a Declaration of Intent gives Mexico's Defense Ministry access to the US military's digital marketplace to counter cartel drones.

This article by the SinEmbargo newsroom originally appeared in the August 16, 2026 edition of SinEmbargo.

Mexico City, August 16 (SinEmbargo).— Mexico will be able to access the market of the United States (US) military to buy drones and systems capable of detecting or countering unmanned aircraft, as part of a new security cooperation agreement to combat drug trafficking.

Thanks to the agreement, Mexico’s Defense Ministry will have access to the digital marketplace of the US armed forces to explore unmanned aerial systems and anti-drone technology.

The US Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, reported this Sunday that the two countries signed a Declaration of Intent during the visit to Mexico of the US Army Secretary, Daniel Driscoll.

According to Johnson, the understanding seeks to expand Mexico’s capabilities through new technologies and tools for its security and defense operations.

Systems designed to detect and counter unmanned aircraft

The agreement also includes systems designed to detect and counter unmanned aircraft. Photo: X/@USAmbMex

“Our defense cooperation continues to strengthen. During Driscoll’s visit, the United States and Mexico’s Defense Ministry signed a Declaration of Intent to strengthen our strategic and operational capabilities through defense innovation and new technologies,” he stated.

Access to this equipment takes on relevance amid the use of drones by criminal groups in various parts of the country, since the aircraft serve for surveillance and tracking, and detecting them is another challenge for the authorities.

With the new agreement, the Defense Ministry will be able to consult the offerings of the US Army’s digital marketplace and look for systems to identify and counter unmanned aircraft.

Nuestra cooperación en materia de defensa continúa fortaleciéndose. Durante la visita de @SecArmy Driscoll, los Estados Unidos y @Defensamx1 firmaron una Declaración de Intención para fortalecer nuestras capacidades estratégicas y operativas mediante la innovación en defensa y… pic.twitter.com/gCf4g7UQWC

— Embajador Ronald Johnson (@USAmbMex) August 16, 2026

Anti-drone technology is designed to counter this threat, since the system can detect an aircraft, track its trajectory, and act to prevent it from continuing to operate.

Ambassador Johnson noted that these tools will allow Mexico to reinforce its capacity to combat criminal groups and address the security challenges that both countries share.

“This technology will strengthen our capacity to combat the cartels and confront our shared security challenges,” he expressed.

Although the agreement opens the door to these acquisitions, it is still not known what equipment Mexico will choose, how much it will buy, or when it will incorporate it into the Defense Ministry’s operations.

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