CIA conducts secret drone operations over Mexico

The CIA under President Donald Trump has been covertly flying MQ-9 Reaper drones over Mexico to spy on drug cartels, according to current and former officials familiar with the matter. The missions mark a dramatic shift in U.S. national security focus towards the southern border.

While the drones are not currently armed, they are capable of carrying payloads for precision strikes. The U.S. has regularly used them for counterterrorism operations in countries like Syria, Iraq, and Somalia.

Some officials believe that designating cartels as terrorist organizations could pave the way for direct U.S. military strikes against cartel leaders and drug labs in Mexico.

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Congress notified of covert expansion

The CIA has conducted surveillance operations in Mexico before, in cooperation with Mexican authorities. However, the latest drone flights were reported to Congress under a special notification reserved for new or updated covert programs that the CIA may deny or conceal, a source told CNN. The notification reportedly made no mention of Mexican government involvement.

The CIA declined to comment directly on the drone missions. A spokesperson stated that countering drug cartels is a priority as part of the Trump administration’s broader efforts against narco-trafficking.

Tensions rise between U.S. and Mexico

The revelation of CIA drone flights comes amid growing tensions between the U.S. and Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and senior officials have emphasized the importance of sovereignty, stating that previous U.S. spy plane flights occurred in international airspace.

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Mexican Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla expressed concern over the lack of communication about these operations. “We cannot rule out espionage because we do not know exactly what was done,” he said. However, he acknowledged that no violations of Mexican airspace had been confirmed regarding other flights.

Unlike those spy plane missions, the CIA’s MQ-9 operations are taking place within Mexican airspace. The Mexican government has not yet responded to requests for comment.

Shift in U.S. counterterrorism strategy

The CIA’s drone operations reflect a broader Trump administration shift to treating drug cartels as a counterterrorism threat. A 2025 Trump transition document outlined plans to reprogram counterterrorism resources to target cartels.

Trump has previously suggested military action against the cartels, stating in 2019 that the U.S. was ready to “wage war” on them. In January 2025, he signed an executive order calling for certain cartels to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations.

National Security Adviser Mike Waltz has also advocated for military action against Mexican cartels. As a congressman, he co-sponsored legislation authorizing the use of force against them.

The State Department has drafted a list of cartels for designation as foreign terrorist organizations, though formal designations have yet to be made. If enacted, this could further escalate U.S. involvement in Mexico’s fight against organized crime.