The U.S. and Mexico : trading partners, reluctant military allies
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Authors
Garza, Rafael H.
Subjects
Advisors
Velazques, Arturo C. Sotomayor
Date of Issue
2010-03
Date
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
The United States (U.S.) and Mexico are more than neighbors sharing a common border. Since 1994, their economies have become more interdependent than ever by the entry into force of the North Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which made Mexico the United States' third-largest trading partner. In spite of growing economic and social interdependence, the reality is that bilateral military cooperation remains limited, with the armed forces of both countries rarely interacting with each other. Why are the U.S. and Mexican militaries so distant? Why is Mexico a U.S. economic partner, but not a military ally? This study analyzes U.S.-Mexico relations from an historical perspective and assesses how bilateral military cooperation has evolved since World War II. It finds that common threats and growing economic interdependence cannot account for the absence of military-to-military cooperation. Instead, different military mission sets, divergent orientations and the absence of civilian control in Mexico imposes significant obstacles to improving military relations with the United States.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Security Studies
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
xii, 55 p. ;
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.