U.S. Defense Secretary Hagel's trip to Mexico and Guatemala
Last week United States Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel traveled to Mexico and Guatemala for a three-day visit, where he called for deeper U.S.-Mexico ties and praised Guatemalan President Pérez Molina for his work on human rights. On both visits he expressed the United States’ deep commitment to supporting both countries’ armed forces to fight narcotrafficking, particularly in Guatemala, where Hagel walked through a military capability display of troops and equipment.
On his way to Latin America Hagel stopped by Fort Bragg, N.C. to meet with special operations personnel who lead military-to-military engagement in Latin America, which he described as “really critically important for our future and I think for the stability of the world."
Mexico
On Thursday Hagel met with Mexico's and Canada's defense secretaries for the North American Defense Ministerial, a trilateral initiative launched in 2012. The three discussed security threats, including violent extremist groups and cybercrime, and explored more collaboration on activities such as border security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief planning.
While there, Hagel said he was looking to deepen the U.S.-Mexico security relationship and is exploring training with Mexican security forces. The meeting in Mexico closely follows the State Department clearing the way for a proposed deal between Mexico and the U.S. for the purchase of 18 Black Hawk helicopters and other military equipment from U.S. contractors.
U.S. officials hope this sale signals stronger strategic ties between the two countries. Jack Kirby, the Pentagon Press Secretary, commented on the matter, stating: “We believe this proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy national security of the United States by helping improve the security of a strong, strategic partner in Mexico, both in terms of combating organized crime and drug trafficking.”
Guatemala
On Thursday afternoon, Hagel visited Guatemala to meet with U.S. and Guatemalan officials, including President Otto Peréz Molina, to convey U.S. support for the country as a “key partner in the region challenged by narcotics trafficking and transnational crime”, according to the Department of Defense.
President Molina “has really upped the game on human rights down there” according to Hagel, who described Guatemala as “a country that used to be in a lot of trouble.” He also praised the country’s “progress in reforming and modernizing its defense institutions,” which it has done with considerable Defense Department support.
Hagel also noted “the United States has been the principal sponsor and the principal training institution and all that, as well as assisting them through our different FMF programs and other programs where we cooperate. So it's clearly in our best interests.”
The United States has been instrumental in setting up the interagency security task force Tecun Uman along Guatemala’s border with Mexico. As Reuters noted, Hagel met with authorities to discuss U.S. support for new task forces on the border with El Salvador and Honduras, as well as for continued support for maritime and aerial counternarcotics operations.
The Associated Press published a story noting that Hagel expressed remorse for the Guatemalan soldier that died earlier this month during the annual Beyond the Horizon humanitarian and civic assistance exercises, which will be carried out until June. Beyond the Horizon, set to take place in Belize, the Dominican Republic and Guatemala, trains noncombat troops on how to use engineering, construction, language and medical skills to improve relations with civilian populations.
For Hagel exercises like these “boost [the U.S.’] strategic interests” in the short term and long term as they “influence generations of people in their attitudes toward America.”
While in Mexico Hagel said, “Over the years, we’ve probably never done enough to reach out to our Latin American partners.” While it is unclear if this visit will lead to strengthening ties with governments and security forces throughout the region, it is notable that Hagel is the first U.S. Secretary of Defense to visit Guatemala since 2005, and only the third to visit Mexico ever, preceded by William Perry in 1995 and Robert Gates in 2010.
This is also Hagel’s first visit to the region since he assumed the role of Defense Secretary in February 2013.