Mexico Seeks to Expand Navy’s Security, Customs, and Cyber Powers

The President's Office has sent a reform initiative to the Chamber of Deputies to formalize and expand the duties of the Ministry of the Navy (SEMAR). The proposal seeks to codify powers over customs, ports, and airports into the Organic Law of the Mexican Navy. These powers were previously granted by presidential decree and come at a critical time for national security and foreign trade.

The bill's fundamental objective, according to its explanatory statement, is "to strengthen the strategic, technological, and cyber-defense capabilities of the Mexican Navy, improving its education, training, and intelligence." This redefinition of powers seeks to align the institution's legal framework with its existing responsibilities in response to an increasingly complex and technical security environment.

The proposal to issue a new Organic Law for the Mexican Navy is not an isolated event. It follows a series of decrees from the administration of former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. A key decree from Dec. 21, 2021, which modified the internal regulations of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) and the Tax Administration Service (SAT), transferred operational and administrative control of the country's maritime and inland customs to SEMAR. This measure was designed to increase security and combat corruption and smuggling.

This legislative initiative is being introduced amid public scrutiny of investigations into the alleged involvement of naval commanders in huachicol fiscal schemes (large-scale fuel tax evasion). The reform can therefore be seen as an effort to provide a robust and permanent legal foundation for the Navy's operations in areas critical to public finance and security, thereby closing legal and operational gaps. The proposal also aligns with the 2025–2030 National Development Plan and the National Maritime Policy, both of which project the consolidation of a unified National Maritime Authority under SEMAR's leadership.

The 101-article initiative is broad in scope and redefines multiple aspects of the Mexican Navy's structure and mission. The reform’s main pillars are:

Expanded Operational Scope

Beyond formalizing customs control, the proposal extends the Navy's field of action to new domains. It states that safeguarding national sovereignty will not be limited to territorial waters and coastal zones but will also cover corresponding airspace. This is complemented by formalizing its role in airport protection through Naval Airport Protection Units, which will support civilian authorities. In the maritime sphere, its powers to combat illicit acts are strengthened through the right of visit and pursuit in the Exclusive Economic Zone and on the high seas, consistent with international law.

Cybersecurity as a Strategic Pillar

One of the reform's most significant components is the formal inclusion of cyber defense and cybersecurity as core missions for the Navy. The bill authorizes the institution to conduct military operations in cyberspace, "in collaboration with other authorities, as well as the use of AI," to protect the country's strategic infrastructure.

This measure responds to a constantly evolving digital threat landscape. "The defense of the country is also fought in the invisible environment of cyberspace," says Israel Aguero, Director General of Cybersecurity and Technological Development, Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC). According to SSPC data, Mexico registered over 40 billion cyberattack attempts just in the first half of 2025.

Command Restructuring and Institutional Modernization

The initiative also includes a reorganization of the command chain. While the Supreme Command remains with the President and the High Command with the head of SEMAR, the bill introduces the position of Strategic Chief Commander. This role will be held by the Head of Naval Operations, formerly the General Staff of the Navy, to optimize the execution of operations.

Additionally, the proposal introduces modernizing changes. It removes the mission "to cooperate in the maintenance of constitutional order" from the legal framework, refocusing the Navy's role toward defending national security from external and specialized threats. The reform also explicitly establishes substantive equality, stipulating that Navy personnel may hold command at any level regardless of gender.