US Army drone spotted over Gulf near Mexico’s strategic coast

Mérida, Yucatán — During the early hours of Monday, January 5, a U.S. Army drone was detected conducting a round-trip flight over the Gulf of Mexico, with trajectories spanning from Yucatán to Tabasco, drawing attention due to its proximity to national territory.

According to records obtained through open data platforms, the unmanned aircraft was identified while conducting surveillance flights that remained in proximity to the coasts of Yucatán, Campeche, Tabasco, and Veracruz, without formally entering Mexican airspace.

This is not the first time a similar incident has been reported. In December of last year, a drone allegedly belonging to the U.S. Navy was also captured conducting a nighttime surveillance flight over southeastern Mexico, reinforcing attention on this region.

The possible overflight occurs in a strategic priority zone for the governments of Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Claudia Sheinbaum, where during the previous administration large-scale infrastructure projects were promoted, including:

• The Maya Train, a flagship connectivity project in the Southeast.
• The Olmeca refinery, located in Dos Bocas, Tabasco.
• The Interoceanic Corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, key for transportation and industrial development.

Additionally, dozens of military complexes have been installed in this region, and several of these projects remained under the administration of the Armed Forces. The Southeast of the country concentrates nearly 80% of proven oil reserves, which increases its strategic and geopolitical value.

To date, no Mexican or U.S. authority has issued an official position on the detected flight.