Political Risk:
High
Score:
42/100
Defence and Security Policy and Policy Transparency
Q1
42/100
Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?
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The Mexican Congress has powers to issue laws on security matters; [1] organise the Civil Guard and other public security institutions in federal matters;…
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Through the bicameral National Security Commission, the legislature controls and evaluates policies and actions related to National Security. [1] For its part, the Auditor…
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The Executive branch has important powers over defence and security issues in Mexico, such as: preserving national security, organising the permanent Armed Forces (the…
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Q2
35/100
Does the country have an identifiable and effective parliamentary defence and security committee (or similar such organisations) to exercise oversight?
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Within Congress, there is a bicameral National Security Commission and among its formal rights are the right to review and analyze the reports and…
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Federal laws do not mention knowledge about the defence sector as a requirement to form part of the legislative commissions on the subject. [1]…
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The defence and security committees examine and address the issues that are most relevant and that pose a threat to the country during their…
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The Commissions do not oversee short-term defence policy as such. They do analyse the current situation and issue opinions, but only if the problem…
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The work of the Committees does not include long-term investigations. The work carried out by legislators is restricted by the end of their term…
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There is not enough information to score this indicator. The Defence Commissions prepare opinions and observations regarding the matters that are assigned to them…
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Q3
38/100
Is the country’s national defence policy or national security strategy debated and publicly available?
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Recently, the debate on defence policy and security strategy has become more regular, which corresponds to the situation of violence that exists in the…
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Debates on national defence policy or security strategy focus mainly on the threats facing the country, such as the fight against drug trafficking and…
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By constitutional mandate, both national security and the organisation, operation, and discipline of the Armed Forces cannot be the subject of public consultation –…
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It is possible to access general information on defence policy on the official sites of the National Defense Commissions, SEDENA, and SEMAR, such as:…
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Q4
42/100
Do defence and security institutions have a policy, or evidence, of openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) when dealing with issues of corruption?
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There is no policy that demands openness of defence and security institutions towards civil society organisations. In fact, the National Defence Sector Program 2013-2018…
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By constitutional mandate “the manifestation of ideas will not be the object of any judicial or administrative inquisition” [1] and “the right to associate…
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In practice, and despite institutional efforts such as the creation of partnership areas, society and academia consider that the lack of a true engagement…
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Q5
75/100
Has the country signed up to the following international anti-corruption instruments: UNCAC and the OECD Convention?
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Mexico is not a major arms exporter, and it signed the United Nations Convention against Corruption on 9 December 2003 and ratified it on…
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In compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, Mexico created the National Anti-Corruption System in 2015. In fact, some civil society organisations have…
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Q6
75/100
Is there evidence of regular, active public debate on issues of defence? If yes, does the government participate in this debate?
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There is evidence of a regular public debate on defence and security issues in recent years. Academics, journalists, and civil society organisations actively participate…
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In recent years, government participation in debates on defence issues has become more common, although spaces have been reduced to press conferences and public…
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Q7
50/100
Does the country have an openly stated and effectively implemented anti-corruption policy for the defence sector?
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There is a National Anticorruption System which establishes the principles, general foundations, public policies, and procedures for coordination between the authorities of all levels…
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The defence sector has integrated an action plan to combat corruption as part of the demands of the National Anti-Corruption System (“SNA” in Spanish).…
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Q8
75/100
Are there independent, well-resourced, and effective institutions within defence and security tasked with building integrity and countering corruption?
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SEDENA and SEMAR have an Internal Control Body (OIC) whose mandate is to prevent, detect, punish, and eradicate corrupt practices. [1] In this regard,…
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Both the Internal Control Bodies and the CEPCI are attached to SEDENA and SEMAR, and are made up of public servants from said agencies.…
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There is not enough information to score this indicator. The ASF carries out evaluations of both the OIC and the CEPCI. In the CEPCI…
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Q9
NS/100
Does the public trust the institutions of defence and security to tackle the issue of bribery and corruption in their establishments?
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There is not enough information to score this indicator. The general perception of citizens, academia, and CSOs about the commitment of defence and security…
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Q10
38/100
Are there regular assessments of the areas of greatest corruption risk for ministry and armed forces personnel, and are the findings used as inputs to the anti-corruption policy?
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There is evidence of a National Military Plan for Joint Defence, [1] a document focused on defending Mexico from foreign attacks/invasion. This is a…
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This indicator is scored ‘Not Applicable,’ given that risk assessments are not conducted. There is enough information to indicate some level of awareness regarding…
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The risk assessment findings may be used to develop anti-corruption policy. In fact, this is how the SNA was born, derived from concern about…
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Defence Budgets
Q11
58/100
Does the country have a process for acquisition planning that involves clear oversight, and is it publicly available?
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There is a clear process for procurement. In the first phase, planning, the agencies define the goals of their organisation, formulate the purchase requirements…
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The agencies, including SEDENA and SEMAN, make available to the public the Procurement, Leasing, and Services Policies (Bases and Guidelines (POBALINES)), [1] the Annual…
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The agencies are responsible for sending to the Ministry of Public Administration, the Ministry and the Ministry of Economy, the information related to acts…
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Q12
88/100
Is the defence budget transparent, showing key items of expenditure? And it is provided to the legislature in a timely fashion?
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The Federation’s Expenditure Budget details the defence budget [1] which contains information such as: information related to personnel (salaries and assignments), research, acquisitions, and…
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According to Article 39 of the National Budget and Financial Responsibility Law, the fiscal year is the same as the calender year, starting on…
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Q13
38/100
Is there a legislative committee (or other appropriate body) responsible for defence budget scrutiny and analysis in an effective way?
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There is a legislative Committee (Committee on Budget and Public Account (CPCP)) and a technical body (The Superior Audit of the Federation (ASF)) with…
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Neither the CPCP nor the ASF has any powers to modify the defence budget. They only have the authority to issue recommendations in case…
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Q14
50/100
Is the approved defence budget made publicly available? In practice, can citizens, civil society, and the media obtain detailed information on the defence budget?
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The Federation’s Expenditure Budget, including the defence budget, is published in the Official Gazette of the Federation no later than 20 calendar days after…
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Public information on the defence budget is not detailed. For example, the budget for the acquisition of weapons is not specific and is not…
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The Transparency Law establishes a period of twenty days to respond to requests for information. As an exception, this term can be extended for…
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Q15
8/100
Are sources of defence income other than from central government allocation (from equipment sales or property disposal, for example) published and scrutinised?
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The regulations indicate that agencies, in this case, SEDENA, must submit a report to the SHCyP on the income they have received for products…
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There is no institutional scrutiny of non-government funding sources. The annual reports of the public accounts by the ASF do not refer to this…
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Public scrutiny of non-government sources of SEDENA funds is non-existent. Few documents indicate SEDENA’s earnings from the sale of arms, the sale of livestock,…
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Q16
38/100
Is there an effective internal audit process for defence ministry expenditure (that is, for example, transparent, conducted by appropriately skilled individuals, and subject to parliamentary oversight)?
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At SEDENA there is a unit called Inspection and Comptroller General of the Army and Air Force, an administrative body responsible for the supervision,…
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The results of the internal audits are presented to the SFP. However, there is insufficient information to know whether SEDENA presents complete reports or…
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Internal audit reports are not proactively disclosed. However, since ASF has the power to conduct external scrutiny, it receives internal audit reports. Information can…
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The content of the internal audit reports is not public knowledge, and therefore it is not possible to indicate precisely whether SEDENA addresses their…
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Q17
25/100
Is there effective and transparent external auditing of military defence expenditure?
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There are two external audit units: the ASF and the SFP. The ASF depends on the Legislative power and has the power to audit…
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Both audit units are independent from SEDENA, however, the ASF is a technical body for oversight of the Chamber of Deputies with management and…
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The ASF publishes on its official site the audit reports in open formats in accordance with the provisions of the General Law of Transparency…
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Although the recommendations issued by the ASF in the audit reports should be addressed, [1] specialists on the subject point out that audits of…
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Nexus of Defence and National Assets
Q18
75/100
Is there evidence that the country’s defence institutions have controlling or financial interests in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource exploitation and, if so, are these interests publicly stated and subject to scrutiny?
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Although it is not outright prohibited, the Political Constitution of Mexico restricts the exploitation of the country’s natural resources, which are legally considered public…
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There is no evidence of the participation of defence institutions in the exploitation of resources, either officially or through journalistic notes or indications by…
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Although there is no information to demonstrate the military’s participation in illicit business in hydrocarbon extraction itself, there is information on the theft of…
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This indicator has been marked ‘Not Applicable’, as there is no evidence of defence institutions participating in the exploitation of natural resources. [1]
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This indicator has been marked ‘Not Applicable’, as there is no evidence of defence institutions participating in the exploitation of natural resources. [1]
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Organised Crime
Q19
13/100
Is there evidence, for example through media investigations or prosecution reports, of a penetration of organised crime into the defence and security sector? If no, is there evidence that the government is alert and prepared for this risk?
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There is evidence of the penetration of organised crime in the defence and security sector. From 2006 to 2016, 1,025 members of the Secretaries…
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The government is aware of the possibility of organised crime penetrating the defence and security sector. The available information shows that the heads of…
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Q20
42/100
Is there policing to investigate corruption and organised crime within the defence services and is there evidence of the effectiveness of this policing?
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The newly created National Guard is an institution that is in charge of public security and is attached to the Ministry of Citizen Security…
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The newly created National Guard and Office of the Attorney General of the Republic are autonomous entities, legally independent and possessing their own budgets.…
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The ASF has indicated that the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic, currently the FGR, did not guarantee an effective, impartial, and…
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Control of Intelligence Services
Q21
25/100
Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?
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There are organisations in charge of the scrutiny of the intelligence services, such as the bicameral Commission of Congress, the Parliamentary Committee in charge…
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According to Art. 57 of the National Security Law, [1] the bicameral Commission of Congress in charge of oversight can request information from intelligence…
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Q22
0/100
Are senior positions within the intelligence services filled on the basis of objective selection criteria, and are appointees subject to investigation of their suitability and prior conduct?
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The National Intelligence Centre (formerly the Centre for Research and National Security, CISEN) is headed by a Director General, who is appointed by the…
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The Director General has the discretion to designate positions, as well as to approve and revoke the appointments of freely appointed personnel. [1] In…
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Journalistic notes evidence that the suitability of individuals in these positions is not investigated and, consequently, that the superior positions have been filled by…
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Export Controls
Q23
50/100
Does the government have a well-scrutinised process for arms export decisions that aligns with Articles 7.1.iv, 11.5, and 15.6 of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)?
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Mexico signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in 2013 and ratified it in 2014. [1]
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An expert on the matter points out that the United Nations reports indicate that Mexico has generally complied with the provisions of the Treaty,…
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Arms exports are not debated in Congress, and specialists point out that the instances that could participate in the debate do not really have…
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Lobbying in Defence
Lobbying activities in the defence sector are not regulated in Mexico. In this regard, both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate included in…
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This indicator is marked ‘Not Applicable’ as Mexico does not have legislation that regulates lobbying activities in the defence sector. [1] [2] [3] [4]…
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This indicator is marked ‘Not Applicable’ as Mexico does not have legislation that regulates lobbying activities in the defence sector. [1] [2] [3] [4]…
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This indicator is marked ‘Not Applicable’ as Mexico does not have legislation that regulates lobbying activities in the defence sector. [1] [2] [3] [4]…
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