On September 19th, Mexico’s Senate approved a constitutional reform, which was introduced by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which put the National Guard under military control. Armed forces will not only have policing duties, but will also have a larger role to play in migration control in border areas and will help build and manage large infrastructure projects. Consequently, this allows the army to be mobilised in peacetime. This marks the second constitutional change successfully introduced by Lopez Obrador just days before leaving office. Both of these reforms were approved with minimal opposition, raising concerns in the country about the potential consequences of increased militarisation in the country. 

Opposition parties and human rights organisations have voiced their concerns over the Senate’s decision, warning the Mexican population of potential consequences for civil liberties and public safety. Political scientist Ana Vanessa Cárdenas described the reform as “regression and an implosion in terms of security and human rights”, highlighting the risks posed by granting the military greater control. Similarly, the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement emphasising how the militarisation of the National Guard could lead to an increase in forced disappearances, unlawful detentions, and a culture of impunity. 

Opposition figures have expressed similar concerns. Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio, from the Citizen Movement (Movimiento Ciudadano) party, argued that putting public security under the military’s remit normalises the idea that Mexico can only achieve peace through militarisation. Members of MORENA, the ruling party, have responded by arguing that President Claudia Sheinbaum would be incapable of abusing military power. 

The government claims that this move is necessary to combat the country’s spiralling violence and drug trafficking. However, history suggests otherwise. Mexico registers annually more than 35,000 homicides, and more than 100,000 people are classified as missing or disappeared. The sad reality is that different actors and groups have used these violent tools to impose their will and increase their control of illegal markets. 

This militarisation strategy, which began with the creation of the National Guard, is anything but a long-term solution to the country’s devastating violence. Therefore, although militarisation may seem like a quick and decisive solution, it is likely to trigger more violence in the long run rather than providing a lasting peaceful solution to Mexico’s drug war. Rather than relying on force, Mexico must prioritise institutional reforms to strengthen civilian institutions.

Moreover, the military has been linked to numerous human rights abuses, including enforced disappearances, unlawful detentions, and extrajudicial killings. Militarising the National Guard runs the risk of exacerbating these violations. Without any serious investments in reforming institutions, this cycle of violence is likely to worsen, and human rights abuses will continue to rise, trapping the country in a militarised response that can never deliver the security and justice the Mexican people so urgently need.

The National Guard was founded in 2019. Initially, this project was portrayed as a solution to Mexico’s public security crisis. The intention was to create a civilian force free from corruption and inefficiency. However, doubts emerged due to the high number of former military officers in the National Guard’s leadership. More than 70% of its personnel are drawn from the army or the navy. Evidently, this blurs the line between military and civilian oversight. Likewise, in 2023, Mexico’s Supreme Court branded a similar attempt to militarise the National Guard as unconstitutional. However, with a two-thirds majority  in Congress, AMLO’s administration has been able to push through this controversial reform.

The decision to place the National Guard under military control has raised significant concerns about the future of civil liberties, human rights, and public safety in Mexico. While the government claims that this move is necessary to combat violence and drug trafficking, the historical record shows that this strategy will only exacerbate the situation. As Mexico faces escalating violence and insecurity, it is imperative that the government prioritises comprehensive institutional reforms that aim to strengthen civilian oversight and accountability, rather than resorting to militarisation.