Mexico, US, Canada Launch Multinational Military Exercise

Mexico, the United States, and Canada have begun a new trinational military exercise named Fuerzas Amigas 2025, marking a significant step in defense cooperation and interoperability among the three North American partners. The exercise, announced on Dec. 23, 2025 by the Mexican aerospace and defense community, brings together forces from all three nations in a coordinated training event designed to enhance readiness, logistical coordination, and joint operational capabilities across a range of strategic scenarios.

Officials have described the exercise as an opportunity to strengthen defense ties, improve joint response capabilities and promote interoperability among the Mexican Armed Forces, the United States Department of Defense, and the Canadian Armed Forces. “Fuerzas Amigas 2025 reflects our shared commitment to regional security and cooperation,” military analysts said. The exercise is expected to include simulated scenarios covering humanitarian aid, disaster response, joint logistics operations, search and rescue coordination, and command and control protocols in multinational settings.

While detailed schedules and specific locations have not been fully disclosed, exercises like Fuerzas Amigas typically involve training across land, air, and maritime domains. Mexican defense authorities have emphasised that the objective is not only to drill tactical skills, but also to harmonise procedures, communications systems, and logistics among partner forces, enhancing their ability to operate in concert in multilateral missions or regional contingencies.

The initiative follows a broader trend in North American defense cooperation. The three countries have been refining trilateral security mechanisms through the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), previously expanded in 2022 to include new missions and integrated operations. NORAD’s modernization has underscored the importance of closer cooperation in aerospace warning, regional defense, and joint response planning. Analysts say Fuerzas Amigas 2025 can be seen as a complementary initiative focused on operational readiness and combined planning beyond aerospace warning missions.

In recent years, Mexico’s defense policy has emphasised cooperation with regional partners while maintaining sovereign control over its internal security agenda. Mexico has participated in various bilateral and multinational exercises, including humanitarian response drills with the United States and Canada, underlining the importance of institutional coordination in the face of natural disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and floods. Climate-related emergencies have historically prompted coordinated action among these countries, given their shared exposure to extreme weather events.

Fuerzas Amigas 2025 arrives amid evolving geopolitical conditions in the Western Hemisphere. Global defense analysts note rising concerns over transnational threats such as cyberattacks, illegal trafficking networks, and emergent security challenges that cross borders. Joint exercises sharpen collective capabilities to address these threats while respecting each nation’s constitutional frameworks and political priorities.

Mexico’s involvement reflects a broader diplomatic and security posture that balances partnership with national autonomy. While the country’s constitution sets strict limits on foreign troop presence, joint exercises like Fuerzas Amigas are conducted under agreed parameters that respect sovereignty. They are also consistent with ongoing military-to-military engagements under frameworks such as the North American Leaders’ Summit and security dialogues held regularly among the three capitals.

Canada’s participation brings an added dimension to the trilateral partnership, reinforcing the idea that regional security extends beyond traditional bilateral ties to a truly continental approach. In recent years, Canadian forces have engaged in joint readiness exercises in the Pacific and Arctic regions with both the US and Mexican counterparts, promoting knowledge sharing in diverse operational environments.

The US Department of Defense has underscored the importance of such joint training in promoting stability and shared capabilities across allied forces. In previous multinational exercises, US military leaders have highlighted the value of interoperability, swift logistical coordination, and unified command and control as key outcomes that enhance collective response capacity.

Another anticipated focus of Fuerzas Amigas is civil-military cooperation. Given Mexico’s recent experience with large-scale natural disasters, civil defense preparedness has become a priority. Exercises often include simulated coordination between military units, civilian authorities, and international partners for effective disaster relief and complex evacuation scenarios.

Local emergency managers, public safety officials, and community leaders are also observing the exercise to glean insights on best practices and procedural harmonisation. These collaborations may inform domestic planning and response strategies, improving outcomes for communities affected by emergencies.

As Fuerzas Amigas 2025 progresses, participating forces are expected to share After Action Reports (AARs) and lessons learned to refine future training activities. The outcomes of the exercise will likely inform subsequent planning cycles and could influence the nature of military cooperation among the three partners in the years ahead.

The exercise underscores a strategic continuity in North American defense relations, one that balances shared security responsibilities with respect for national sovereignty. As geopolitical conditions and transnational challenges evolve, initiatives like Fuerzas Amigas demonstrate a commitment to collective readiness, professional engagement, and sustained collaboration among Mexico, the United States, and Canada.