Mexico Tightens Rules on US Military Aircraft Operations

Mexico’s federal government has revised the logistical conditions under which United States military aircraft may operate on Mexican territory, following controversy over the landing of a US Air Force C-130 Hercules aircraft at Toluca International Airport. President Claudia Sheinbaum said the decision aims to clarify procedures for bilateral security cooperation and prevent future disputes, while maintaining that the recent operation complied with Mexican law and was authorized by national security institutions.

Speaking at her daily press conference on Jan. 21, Sheinbaum confirmed that Mexico will now require Mexican aircraft to transport public officials traveling to the United States for security training, rather than allowing US military aircraft to enter Mexico for that purpose.

“It is better for a Mexican aircraft to go to the United States to take those who will receive training, than for a United States aircraft to come and pick them up. So this is much better, and it is a decision that has been taken,” Sheinbaum said.

The change follows public scrutiny triggered by images and reports of a US military Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules landing at Toluca airport, a civilian facility in the State of Mexico. The aircraft was reportedly used to transport Mexican security personnel to the United States for training.

Sheinbaum emphasized that the landing was authorized by Mexico’s National Security Council and did not violate any legal provisions. According to the president, the council approves all international training activities involving Mexican security personnel.

“The National Security Council decided on the landing of the US military aircraft in Toluca”, she said. “They had their reasons, with the objective of transporting people who were going to receive training in the United States. These training programs are approved by the same council; it is not something an institution decides on its own.”

Sheinbaum rejected claims that Senate approval was required. Under Mexico’s Constitution, the Senate must authorize the entry of foreign troops into national territory, a requirement she said did not apply in this case.

“No law is being violated”, she said. “It was said that Senate permission was required, but the Senate approves when troops enter the country. In this case, more than troops, what arrived were instructors.”

She added that the aircraft did not transport weapons and that only the pilot and crew members were on board. “The US aircraft did not carry armament, and only the pilot and the crew came to Mexico,” she said.

Sheinbaum also noted that US military aircraft have landed in Mexico on previous occasions as part of bilateral cooperation, though those landings typically took place at military air bases rather than civilian airports.

“It is not the first time a US aircraft has come to Mexico,” she said. “Previously, authorization had been granted for it to land at a military airport.”

While defending the legality of the Toluca landing, Sheinbaum said the government decided to adjust procedures to avoid misunderstandings and ensure greater control over logistics related to international training.

Going forward, when the National Security Council approves training for Mexican personnel in the United States, Mexican authorities will be responsible for transportation, she said.

“When a training program is approved by the National Security Council, I believe it is better for a Mexican aircraft to take those who will receive training, rather than for a US aircraft to come and pick them up,” she said.

Sheinbaum clarified that US military aircraft could still land in Mexico under “special logistical conditions,” though she did not detail the specific criteria. She described the issue as part of an ongoing bilateral relationship rather than a policy shift.

“This is a bilateral situation and it is not new; it has simply become more visible,” she said.

According to Sheinbaum, the Hercules aircraft was linked to a training program for Mexican security personnel, including members of the Ministry of Citizen Security. She said the authorization for the operation had been granted months earlier. “It was an authorization given since October of last year and it had to do with a training matter,” she said.

She added that the training was conducted by US Northern Command and fell within existing bilateral agreements. “They are training programs that are related to their work and are regulated by the national security system,” she said.

Sheinbaum stressed that cooperation with the United States includes reciprocal training arrangements. “They also come from the United States to train here; it is important for this to be known,” she said.

The landing prompted criticism from opposition lawmakers, who questioned whether the operation should have required legislative approval. Clemente Castañeda, coordinator of the Citizens’ Movement party in the Senate, said the upper chamber had not authorized the entry of foreign military elements.

“The Senate has not met to authorize the entry of foreign troops into national territory,” Castañeda wrote on social media. He called on the security cabinet to explain whether the presence of the US aircraft was related to a request by the executive branch.

Senators from the National Action Party (PAN) also demanded explanations. PAN Senate leader Ricardo Anaya said the landing was illegal and unjustified, and called for defense and navy officials to appear before Congress.

Sheinbaum dismissed those criticisms, reiterating that the constitutional requirement applies only when foreign troops enter Mexico. “There was no reason to consult, because US troops were not coming, not at all,” she said.

She recalled that in December she had requested authorization for the entry of US troops for training purposes. Although senators had initially approved an extraordinary session to consider the request, it was later canceled. She said the issue was expected to be taken up again when the legislative session begins on Feb. 1.

The controversy surrounding the Toluca landing coincided with a separate aviation alert issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA warned of “military operations” in parts of the Pacific near Mexico, including the Gulf of California, and issued a specific notice for Mazatlán, Sinaloa, citing potential risks to aircraft at all altitudes.

Sheinbaum said the Mexican government activated communication protocols as soon as the alert became public. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport coordinated to determine whether any military activity was taking place in Mexican territory.

“They gave the locations and they were in international waters,” Sheinbaum said, referring to the response from the US government. She added that no prior notice had been given. “They had not notified us beforehand; they did not notify any country,” she said.

Sheinbaum said the revised logistics policy does not represent a break in cooperation with the United States, but rather an adjustment to operational procedures. Mexico will continue to participate in joint training programs, she said, but under conditions that place transportation and visibility of foreign military assets under stricter national control.

For companies and institutions operating in sectors linked to defense, security training, aviation services, and cross-border logistics, the decision signals a more centralized and formalized process for movements related to bilateral security cooperation. All such activities will continue to require approval from the National Security Council and coordination among Mexico’s security and foreign affairs agencies.