Russian intelligence services are increasing their presence in Mexico to conduct espionage operations against the United States. According to US officials and former intelligence officers, Moscow has significantly increased the number of staff at its embassy in Mexico, despite limited trade between the countries. This is worrying in Washington, as the build-up is believed to be aimed at strengthening the Kremlin's intelligence operations against the US and its propaganda efforts.
The Biden administration has already raised the issue with the Mexican government. CIA Director William Burns confirmed that his agency is "sharply focused" on the issue, noting that the expansion of Russia's presence in Mexico is partly the result of the expulsion of Russian spies from other countries after the war in Ukraine began.
Russia's actions in Mexico reflect a more aggressive stance by its intelligence services, which are seeking to silence critics abroad, undermine support for Ukraine and weaken Western democracies. Among the methods used by the Russian special services are sabotage, assassination plans, cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns.
Mexico, unlike the U.S., offers Russia a convenient, lower-risk location for monitoring U.S. agents and conducting other operations. Russian spies can use Mexico's proximity to support both American agents and Russian officers working under "deep cover" in the United States.
In addition, Russian intelligence could use this location to target Putin's political enemies inside the US or prepare sabotage operations in the event of war.
