The US-Mexico arms agreement continues without innovation.

Mexico and the United States formalized a new security cooperation agreement, centered on the "Firewall Mission: United Against Arms Trafficking" initiative, designed to stem the flow of weapons into Mexican territory.

As part of the strategy, Mexico will expand the use of the eTrace system—a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) tracing tool—and ballistic identification technology across all 32 states, allowing for the tracking of weapons from their original sale to their use in crimes.

The United States also agreed to create a secure platform for sharing information on suspicious shipments and cargoes, with the goal of detecting and intercepting illicit drugs, weapons, chemical precursors, and fuels.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described the announcement of the agreement as "historic" following the first meeting of the committee created to discuss security issues between the two nations.

“Yesterday we reached an agreement that the United States will strengthen operations in the United States to control the flow of weapons from the United States to Mexico. An agreement of this kind has never been reached before. Sovereignty is something that will never be negotiated, ever. It is the essence of the nation, it is the essence of the Mexican people,” he emphasized.

Data from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) shows a sustained increase in trace requests for weapons recovered in Mexico in recent years.

The Firearm Commerce, Crime Guns, and the Southwest Border report indicates that between 2017 and 2023, Mexican authorities submitted 148,200 trace requests to the ATF for weapons linked to crimes, of which 50,409 corresponded to the 2022-2023 period alone.

“Nothing new”

Experts consulted by El Economista agreed that the mission represents more of a continuation than an innovation, although it does include technological and cooperative components that could make a difference if implemented effectively.

Erubiel Tirado, a professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, noted that these types of cooperation mechanisms have existed at various times in the bilateral relationship, such as the "smart borders" agreements promoted during Vicente Fox's administration or the cooperation components included in the Mérida Initiative during Felipe Calderón's administration.

He mentioned that the most notable part of the strategy is the announcement of a ballistics traceability system that will allow tracking of weapons used in crimes, with the goal of strengthening the technical capabilities of state police and prosecutors' offices. However, he clarified that it has not yet been determined whether this modernization will be implemented with resources and technology provided by the U.S. government.

"The announcement is good, but we'll have to see how far it progresses. It's unclear whether it will be done with US resources or how long it will take. It's something we'll have to observe during its implementation," he noted.

Alberto Guerrero, a security consultant, emphasized that the program's success will depend on the technical capacity, political will, and genuine cooperation between agencies in both countries. "It's a continuation, but with its ups and downs," he noted.

"If we're going to call for arms control, we must combine efforts, technology, interagency cooperation, and clear commitments to controlling arms sales in the United States," he said.

For Guerrero, the success of the Firewall Mission will require strengthening the expert and forensic capabilities of the Attorney General's Office and the courts, as well as better coordination with financial intelligence units.

"We must identify not only the seller, but also the flow of money used to acquire the weapons. Without specialized human resources, the units will not be able to operate efficiently," he said.

Cristina Pablo Dorantes, a professor at the State University of Mexico, warned that although the plan includes the use of chips and tracking systems, not all states in the United States accept these types of measures due to the strong gun culture and the open sale of guns in supermarkets and retail stores.

"There are states where you can buy a gun at a Walmart. That ease of use has made it difficult to stop arms trafficking into Mexico," he recalled.

He also emphasized that technology has advanced faster than public policy, citing as an example the 3D printing of firearms, a practice that, he explained, has gone unnoticed in the debate on arms trafficking.

Jalisco Cartel carries out simultaneous drone attacks in Michoacán

In less than 24 hours, armed and explosive attacks attributed to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) left three people dead, a bus burned, and three small planes destroyed in the municipalities of Coahuayana and Tepalcatepec.

According to local press, dozens of armed men stormed the towns of Santa María and El Ahijadero starting Saturday afternoon, killing three day laborers and attacking homes with bursts of automatic rifle fire. This reportedly occurred about 10 kilometers from a military base.

Meanwhile, on federal highway 200 Lázaro Cárdenas–Colima, an armed group set fire to a passenger bus near the Coahuayana bridge, causing a complete closure of the road and panic among motorists and residents.

Hours later, in the municipality of Tepalcatepec, another group attacked the La Parota airstrip using Barrett .50 caliber rifles and explosive-laden drones, destroying three private planes at the site.

The mayor of Coahuayana, Andrés Aguilar, announced the suspension of classes in all educational institutions in the municipality and requested the urgent intervention of President Claudia Sheinbaum and Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla to guarantee security in the region.