A New Arsenal! Mexico Is Significantly Increasing Its Arms Purchases from Israel and Overhauling Its Military Arsenal

Why is Mexico buying more and more weapons from Israel? And what does this say about security in the country? In just one year, Mexico’s legal purchases of Israeli weaponry skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. 

They jumped from 1,572 weapons in 2024 to 7,649 in 2025—a 386% increase that not only breaks with recent trends but also makes Israel the fastest-growing supplier in the Mexican market. Behind the figures lie strategic decisions. 

Thousands of assault rifles, light machine guns, and specialized systems—many destined for public security agencies. In other words, it’s not just about buying more weapons, but about changing the type of equipment used by the institutions tasked with confronting violence. 

And although the United States remains Mexico’s primary arms supplier—with over 27,000 units sold between 2023 and 2025—Israel’s growth marks a turning point. While US supplies remain relatively stable, Israel has surged onto the scene, redefining the market balance. 

Overall figures help put the phenomenon in perspective. Between 2023 and 2025, Mexico legally imported at least 72,886 weapons. The record year was 2024, with over 33,000 units, driven primarily by the strengthening of police forces, which doubled their equipment compared to the previous year. 

However, the distribution also reveals something significant. Sixty percent of the weapons ended up in the hands of the armed forces and authorized civilians, while 40% went to public security institutions. 

This suggests a dual strategy: reinforcing both military capacity and internal control. Furthermore, the market is diversifying. Countries such as the Czech Republic, Italy, Brazil, and Germany also appear as suppliers, though none have shown the explosive growth seen with Israel. 

Even so, there is a constant element. Small arms predominate; pistols, rifles, and carbines remain the core of imported weaponry, though there is an increasing presence of more sophisticated equipment, such as grenade launchers or light machine guns. 

All of this points to a quiet yet profound transformation. Mexico isn’t only buying more weapons; it’s changing who sells them, the types of arms acquired, and how they are distributed within its institutions. But what do you think? Does this increase reflect an effective security strategy, or an escalation in militarization? We want to read your comments.

Source: Milenio