Mexican military personnel participate in courses at the Mexican Joint Training Center for Peacekeeping Operations. DIÁLOGO AMÉRICAS
SECRETARIAT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
Mexico for decades has voiced its commitment to multilateral institutions that work to ensure international security and peace. Mexican military personnel participated in some of the first United Nations peacekeeping operations by contributing four military observers to the Balkans from 1947-1950 and six officers to operations in Kashmir in 1949.
Although internal politics made Mexico reluctant to participate in foreign conflicts after that, the U.N. announced on September 24, 2014, that Mexico would officially resume its contributions to U.N. peacekeeping operations. Mexico received support from other countries and offers of cooperation and training from countries with extensive experience in peacekeeping.
The objective of the first deployments in 2015 was to train and develop Mexican military personnel in peacekeeping protocols and methods of operation. Members of the Mexican Army and Air Force were sent to take courses at peacekeeping training centers in partner and friendly nations such as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Paraguay, Spain, Uruguay and others. In 2016, deployment rotations took place and preparations began to establish the Mexican Joint Training Center for Peacekeeping Operations (CECOPAM).
CECOPAM began its activities at the National Defense Joint Headquarters Staff, 5th Section, on January 16, 2018. It later moved to temporary installations at San Miguel de los Jagüeyes Military Camp, while construction of its installations began. Those facilities were inaugurated on January 8, 2020, by the president of the United Mexican States and commander in chief of the Mexican Armed Forces, along with the United Nations undersecretary-general for peace operations.
The center has an administrative building, academic building, lecture hall, lodging (national and foreign), officers’ club, dining hall, gymnasium, sports fields, medical service, and a shooting range simulator. Its mission is to provide the Mexican Armed Forces pre-deployment training for individuals, units, or contingent organizations, as well as members of different Mexican agencies, and foreign military and civilian personnel.
Its vision is to be a model peace operations training center in Latin America. It provides United Nations courses for military staff officers, police officers and military observers. It also provides U.N. courses in the protection of civilians, pre-deployment basics, civil-military coordination, and French language with a focus on peacekeeping operations terminology.
A total of 1,638 women and men (nationals and foreigners) have been trained at the center, which has certifications in U.N. courses for staff headquarters officers and military observers. It is awaiting certification on courses dealing with the protection of civilians and French language with a focus on peacekeeping terminology.
In 2024, 13 in-resident courses are scheduled; Mexico will participate in the annual assemblies of Latin American Association of Peacekeeping Operations Training Centers and the International Association of Peacekeeping Training Centers to be held in Brazil and Kenya, respectively. CECOPAM has been a full member of these organizations since its creation; these activities represent an opportunity to promote the exchange of experiences and knowledge in training peacekeepers.
In coordination with other government agencies, U.N. agencies and organizations related to peacekeeping operations, CECOPAM will continue to position itself as a regional and international source for pre-deployment training, optimizing human resources, materials and infrastructure necessary for peacekeeping missions.
Meanwhile, Mexican peacekeepers have garnered praise from the U.N. for their extraordinary efforts. In March 2023, the U.N. issued a news release lauding Mexico for its peacekeeping efforts in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. “Mexico’s contributions to U.N. peacekeeping over the years testifies to its strong commitment to preserving peace and building a better world,” said Jean-Pierre Lacroix, U.N. undersecretary-general for peace operations. “I look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership in the years ahead. We are grateful to peacekeepers from Mexico, who serve with distinction and courage often in complex environments, and I thank them for their service and sacrifice.”