U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Mexican Navy Conclude 10th Annual Maritime Staff Talks

U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Mexican Navy Conclude 10th Annual Maritime Staff Talks

MEXICO CITY - Senior leaders from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and the Mexican Navy (Marina) concluded the 10th Annual Maritime Staff Talks (MST) in Mexico City, Oct. 20-21, 2026, reinforcing a decade of sustained partnership and deepening security cooperation.

Hosted by Marina, this year's forum integrated senior leadership from U.S. Marine Corps Forces Northern Command (MARFORNORTH) alongside U.S. Fleet Forces Command (USFFC)/U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command (NAVNORTH) and Marina, evolving the engagement into a comprehensive naval and amphibious security dialogue.

"Our steadfast maritime partnership with Mexico is built on trust and is a cornerstone of security and stability in the Western Hemisphere," said Adm. Karl Thomas, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command/U.S. Naval Forces Northern Command. "These talks allow us to enhance our combined capabilities and adapt to counter the complex, shared threats we face in the maritime domain. By integrating our naval and marine forces, we are ensuring a safer and more secure future for both our nations."

Throughout the two-day summit, leaders focused on key operational priorities, including enhancing combined maritime domain awareness through long-range intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) and space-based assets, developing Counter-UAS defenses, and advancing amphibious interoperability.

"Under President Trump's leadership, the United States and Mexico are taking a decade of military cooperation to the next level," said U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson. "These talks strengthen our ability to work together across maritime, air, and other security domains, enhancing intelligence sharing, operational capabilities, and our response to emerging threats from criminal and terrorist organizations. This growing partnership allows us to confront shared challenges more effectively and deliver tangible results that make both the United States and Mexico safer."

The talks culminated in the signing of the official minutes, which formalized the objectives for the coming year and solidified the commitment to a secure North American maritime environment. The U.S.-Mexico defense relationship remains robust and essential to promoting stability throughout the Western Hemisphere.

"The security of the maritime domain increasingly depends on our ability to integrate as a Navy and Marine Corps team," said Lt. Gen. Calvert Worth Jr., commander, Marine Forces Northern Command. "The inclusion of the amphibious mission in these talks is a significant step forward. It strengthens our ability to plan and operate seamlessly from sea to shore, ensuring we are ready to respond to any crisis or threat together.

U.S. Fleet Forces Command mans, trains, and equips combat-ready naval forces to deploy worldwide and provides combatant commanders with responsive, scalable maritime power. Marine Forces Northern Command provides expeditionary capabilities to naval and joint force commanders, securing the homeland and supporting partners across the continent.