Political Risk:

High

Score:

42/100

Defence and Security Policy and Policy Transparency

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Q1 42/100

Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?

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Formal rights Score: 100 / 100
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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Effectiveness Score: 25 / 100
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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Independent legislature scrutiny Score: 0 / 100
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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Formal rights Score: 50 / 100
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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Expertise Score: 0 / 100
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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Responsive policymaking Score: 100 / 100
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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Short-term oversight Score: 25 / 100
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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Long-term oversight Score: 0 / 100
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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Institutional outcomes Score: NEI / 100
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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Scope of involvement Score: 50 / 100
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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Scope of debate Score: 50 / 100
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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Public consultations Score: 0 / 100
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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Transparency Score: 50 / 100
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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Policy of openness Score: 50 / 100
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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CSO protections Score: 50 / 100
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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Practice of openness Score: 25 / 100
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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Signatory and Ratification status Score: 100 / 100
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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Compliance Score: 50 / 100
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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Public debate Score: 100 / 100
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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Government engagement in public discourse Score: 50 / 100
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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Anti-corruption policy Score: 75 / 100
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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Effective implementation Score: 25 / 100
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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Mandate and resources Score: 100 / 100
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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Independence Score: 50 / 100
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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Effectiveness Score: NEI / 100
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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Score: NS / 100
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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Risk assessments Score: 25 / 100
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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Regularity Score: NA / 100
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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Inputs to anti-corruption policy Score: 50 / 100
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

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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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Acquisition planning process Score: 75 / 100
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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Transparency Score: 50 / 100
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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External oversight Score: 50 / 100
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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Comprehensiveness Score: 75 / 100
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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Timeliness Score: 100 / 100
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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Formal rights Score: 75 / 100
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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Influence on decision-making Score: 0 / 100
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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Proactive publication Score: 50 / 100
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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Comprehensiveness Score: 50 / 100
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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Response to information requests Score: 50 / 100
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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Transparency Score: 25 / 100
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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Institutional scrutiny Score: 0 / 100
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 Score: 0 / 100
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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Activity Score: 50 / 100
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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Enabling oversight Score: 50 / 100
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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External scrutiny Score: 50 / 100
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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Institutional outcomes Score: 0 / 100
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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Activity Score: 50 / 100
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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Independence Score: 50 / 100
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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Transparency Score: 0 / 100
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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Institutional outcomes Score: 0 / 100
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

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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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Legal framework Score: 50 / 100
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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Defence institutions: Financial or controlling interests in practice Score: 100 / 100
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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Individual defence personnel: Financial or controlling interests in practice Score: 75 / 100
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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Transparency Score: NA / 100
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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Scrutiny Score: NA / 100
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

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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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Penetration of organised crime Score: 0 / 100
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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Government response Score: 25 / 100
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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Existence of policing function Score: 50 / 100
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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Independence Score: 50 / 100
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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Effectiveness Score: 25 / 100
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

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Q21 25/100

Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?

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Independence Score: 0 / 100
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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Effectiveness Score: 50 / 100
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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Objective selection criteria Score: 0 / 100
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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Selection bias Score: 0 / 100
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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Vetting process Score: 0 / 100
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

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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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Signatory and Ratification Score: 100 / 100
Mexico signed the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) in 2013 and ratified it in 2014. [1]
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Compliance Score: NEI / 100
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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Parliamentary scrutiny Score: 0 / 100
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

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Q76 0/100

Does the country regulate lobbying of defence institutions?

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Legal framework Score: 0 / 100
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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Disclosure: Public officials Score: NA / 100
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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Lobbyist registration system Score: NA / 100
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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Oversight & enforcement Score: NA / 100
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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