Mexico refused to expel CIA‑flagged Russian spies
The New York Times reports that the CIA provided Mexico with a list of more than two dozen Russian intelligence officers posing as diplomats, but Mexican officials declined to expel them despite direct U.S. warnings to then‑President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. While Mexico agreed in 2023 to let U.S. officials weigh in on new Russian diplomatic credential applications—rejecting some—the Russian operatives already in country were allowed to remain even after Mexico’s presidential transition last fall, according to multiple current and former U.S. and Mexican officials.
📌 Key Facts
- CIA compiled a list of 20+ Russian spies in Mexico posing as diplomats, per nine current/former officials cited.
- Mexico declined to expel those identified, though in 2023 it agreed to U.S. input on credentialing and rejected some new Russian applicants.
- Officials say the identified Russian operatives already in Mexico were not removed even after a new Mexican president took office.
📊 Relevant Data
As of March 2024, there are 85 diplomats accredited to the Russian Embassy in Mexico, making it one of the largest Russian diplomatic missions worldwide.
Personnel accredited to the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Mexico — gob.mx
Russian intelligence services are increasing their presence in Mexico to conduct spy operations targeting the United States, leveraging Mexico's proximity and returning to Cold War-era tactics.
the Cold War: Russia uses Mexico as a hub for spying on the U.S. — NBC News
More than 600 suspected Russian spies have been expelled from Russian embassies across Europe since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting Russia to expand its diplomatic and intelligence operations in Mexico.
Why is Mexico Offering Russia a Safe Haven for Its Spies? — SpyTalk
Bilateral trade between Mexico and Russia reached approximately $2.7 billion in 2024, with Mexico remaining Russia's second-largest trade partner in Latin America.
Russia, Mexico 2025 Bilateral Trade & Investment Relations: Update — russiaspivottoasia.com