**U.S. Military Flights Near Mexico: DEFENSE Confirms, But No Evidence of Espionage**
February 11, 2025 – The head of Mexico’s National Defense Ministry (SEDENA), Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, confirmed reports of two U.S. military aircraft flying in international airspace near Mexico. These flights occurred on January 31 and February 3, 2025. During a morning press briefing held by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Trevilla Trejo clarified that the aircraft maintained their transponders on, adhering to international regulations, allowing them to be identified.
The flights did not enter Mexican airspace and were coordinated with appropriate aviation authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. While the nature of these flights remains unclear, Trevilla Trejo stated there is no certainty they were for espionage, nor have they received such requests for flights over Mexican airspace.
Further communication efforts continue between the Mexican authorities and their American counterparts, notably with discussions involving General Gregory M. Guillot of the U.S. Northern Command to address border security issues. Despite increased monitoring activity by the U.S. to track drug cartels, Mexico aims to maintain strong bilateral security cooperation, relying on established information-sharing mechanisms.
**Secondary Article: Intensified U.S. Aerial Surveillance Near the Mexican Border**
Recent reports have surfaced detailing increased surveillance by U.S. military aircraft along the border shared with Mexico. In a span of two weeks between January and February 2025, the U.S. reportedly conducted at least 18 reconnaissance missions, a significant uptick compared to usual operations. These missions, primarily involving U.S. Navy P-8 aircraft and the renowned U-2 spy plane, covered border regions in California, Arizona, and Texas, as well as the Baja California Peninsula.
While these activities are primarily attributed to efforts to monitor drug trafficking routes, they notably deviate from the historical norm of one such mission per month. The increase in surveillance activity highlights ongoing concerns and efforts by the U.S. to gather intelligence on cross-border criminal operations.
For instance, according to Flight Radar 24, a Boeing RC-135V Rivet Joint aircraft from the U.S. Air Force executed multiple missions in the area, equipped to analyze electromagnetic signals and provide near-real-time intelligence. These operations underscore the heightened focus on border security and the continuing collaboration between U.S. and Mexican defense agencies to address mutual security concerns.