Mexico has refused to comply with Washington’s demand to expel more than two dozen Russian diplomats suspected of espionage. This was reported by The New York Times, citing five senior US officials. This incident highlights Mexico’s growing role as a base for Russian intelligence operations directed against US interests.
Since 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Western countries, including the US and its European allies, have carried out mass expulsions of Russian diplomats and intelligence officers. More than 600 agents suspected of espionage were deported from Europe, leaving Moscow without its usual bases of operations. Under these circumstances, Mexico, which borders the US and has been known as the “Vienna of Latin America” since the Cold War, became an ideal hideout for the redeployment of Russian special services.
According to the CIA, Russian agents posing as diplomats actively use Mexico’s tourist traffic to meet with their handlers. In the bustling capital of Mexico City and popular resorts such as Cancun, spies exchange intelligence gathered on US territory, avoiding American surveillance systems. The Russian Embassy in Mexico City is one of the largest in the world, with 86 diplomats (according to the Mexican Foreign Ministry in 2023), which is disproportionate to the modest trade and economic ties between Moscow and Mexico City.
American officials note that Moscow has dramatically stepped up its efforts: agents mingle with tourists, surfers, and vacationers, passing on information about military, technological, and political targets in the US. “Mexico is not just a transit zone, but a full-fledged hub for Russian intelligence,” the NYT quotes one intelligence source as saying.
State Department representatives repeatedly warned their Mexican colleagues. Senior US diplomats, including State Department representatives, shared intelligence about the growing activity of Russian agents. The culmination was a list compiled by the CIA: it contained the names of more than 20 people working under diplomatic cover at the Russian embassy in Mexico City. These individuals allegedly coordinated operations to collect data on the US, including cyber espionage and recruitment of sources.
However, Mexican authorities consistently ignored the requests. “We have not received such a list, and the concerns of the American side are exaggerated,” said sources in the Mexican government. According to officials, Mexico City sees these accusations as an attempt to interfere in its internal affairs and emphasizes the country’s sovereignty.
This refusal heightens concerns in Washington that Russian spies in Mexico could threaten US national security by gathering data on military bases, technology, and elections. “Mexico’s proximity to the US makes it ideal for operations that would be impossible in Europe,” notes the NYT. Analysts warn of the risk of escalation: Trump, known for his tough rhetoric toward Mexico, could use this as an excuse to exert pressure — from tariffs to aid cuts.
At the same time, Russia’s influence in Latin America is growing: Moscow is stepping up disinformation campaigns aimed at severing the region’s ties with the US. For Mexico, this is a test of the balance between geopolitics and pragmatism. As long as the spies remain, a shadow of suspicion will hang over US-Mexican relations, reminding us of the fragility of trust in an era of global conflict.