U.S. Special Forces Arrive in Cozumel for Joint Training Amid Quintana Roo Security Concerns

Cozumel, Quintana Roo — The Mexican Senate has authorized the temporary entry of 12 U.S. Special Forces personnel for joint military training at Cozumel’s Military Air Base No. 4, placing Quintana Roo at the center of bilateral security cooperation amid ongoing cartel violence in the state.

The authorization allows members of the U.S. Army’s 7th Special Forces Group to participate in the “MEXSOF (Defense) Training” event from February 27 to July 15, 2026. The personnel will arrive on a U.S. Air Force aircraft with weapons and equipment for the exercises, which will also take place at military installations in Temamatla and San Miguel de los Jagüeyes in the State of Mexico.

Official documents describe the training as strictly educational, with no participation in public security operations or national territory missions. However, the specialized nature of the 7th Special Forces Group—trained for high-level missions—has raised questions about the specific training objectives, curriculum, and oversight mechanisms, none of which are detailed in publicly released materials.

Strategic Location

Cozumel’s selection as a training site reflects its strategic importance. The island serves as a natural gateway to the Caribbean, with international air connectivity, tourist ports, and maritime routes historically vulnerable to illicit trafficking by sea and air. Recent reports indicate Mexico’s Defense Department plans to expand the operational scope of Military Air Base No. 4 as part of a restructuring to enhance aerial surveillance and coordination in the state.

“Cozumel is not a neutral point,” the analysis notes. “It’s a platform with a privileged location for training, regional airspace control, logistical coordination, and rapid deployment in an entity with high tourist mobility and multiple access routes.”

Security Context

The training announcement comes as Quintana Roo faces significant criminal challenges beyond Cancún and the Riviera Maya. Federal authorities recently targeted drug sales points in tourist destinations like Holbox and Cozumel, while the Quintana Roo Prosecutor’s Office reports 248 arrests linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) since 2025.

These arrests occurred in municipalities including Benito Juárez, Playa del Carmen, Cozumel, Tulum, Puerto Morelos, and Felipe Carrillo Puerto—making Cozumel’s selection as a training site particularly relevant.

In southern Quintana Roo, reports suggest the Caborca Cartel has established presence in Bacalar and Othón P. Blanco, based on journalistic investigations rather than official statements, fueling community concerns about territorial disputes and criminal pressure.

While the basic parameters are confirmed—12 personnel, temporary stay, weapons permitted, three locations, and defined dates—key details remain undisclosed. Public interest now focuses on the specific training curriculum, capabilities being developed, supervision arrangements, results reporting, and verification mechanisms to ensure activities remain strictly within authorized training boundaries.