Mexico has deployed 600 troops to its border with the U.S. in response to a recent surge in violence, including an attack on a military base and a series of mass kidnappings.
The troops have been dispatched to the states of Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon, which border Texas, according to a report by Border Report, a news outlet covering the Mexico-U.S. border. A security expert noted that these states were previously under the control of the Zetas drug cartel, known for its violent tactics.
Although the influence of the Zetas has diminished due to the arrest of their leaders, splinter groups such as the Northeast cartel and Zetas Old School remain active, leading to ongoing conflicts in the border region. Recent weeks have witnessed a sharp increase in violence, including the assassination of Noe Ramos Ferretiz, a mayoral candidate seeking reelection in Tamaulipas.
In addition, there was an attack on a Mexican army installation in the town of Miguel Aleman in Tamaulipas, along with reports of armed clashes between rival gangs in the area. In Nuevo Leon, dozens of individuals were reportedly kidnapped, with many later being released or rescued.
Michael Ballard, the Vice President of Intelligence at Global Guardian, emphasized that while these groups no longer control as much territory as they once did, Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon continue to be key trafficking routes for heroin and cocaine into the U.S., contributing to the ongoing violence in these regions.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has pursued a policy of "hugs, not bullets" in dealing with the cartels, focusing on addressing the socioeconomic root causes of organized crime. However, his attempts to humanize the cartels have been met with controversy, especially following his recent remarks describing them as "respectful people" who mostly kill each other.
Experts and activists have pointed out that cartel violence has resulted in the deaths of thousands of Mexicans and forced many others to flee their homes. Despite pressure from the U.S. to take more aggressive action against the cartels, Obrador has maintained a "Mexico First" policy, refusing to act as a police force for any foreign government.