Mexico Country Handbook This handbook provides basic reference information on Mexico, including its geography, history, government, military forces, and communications and transportation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per­ sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their as­ signment to Mexico. The Marine Corps Intelligence Activity is the community coordinator for the Country Handbook Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on Mexico. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and gov­ ernment personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, NATO member countries, and other countries as required and desig­ nated for support of coalition operations. The photos and text reproduced herein have been extracted solely for research, comment, and information reporting, and are intended for fair use by designated personnel in their official duties, including local reproduction for training. Further dissemination of copyrighted material contained in this document, to include ex­ cerpts and graphics, is strictly prohibited under Title 17, U.S. Code. CONTENTS KEY FACTS .................................................................... 1 U.S. MISSION ................................................................. 2 US Embassy ................................................................ 2 U.S. Consulate ............................................................ 2 Travel Advisories ........................................................ 3 Entry Requirements .................................................... 6 Passport/Visa Requirements .................................. 6 Immunization Requirements .................................. 7 Customs Restrictions ............................................. 7 Credit Cards/Banking ............................................ 8 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE ..................................... 9 Geography ................................................................... 9 Land Statistics ........................................................ 9 Topography ............................................................ 10 Urban Centers ........................................................ 11 Mexico City ...................................................... 11 Guadalajara ....................................................... 13 Monterrey ......................................................... 14 Ciudad Juarez ................................................... 14 Tijuana ............................................................. 14 Climate ........................................................................ 15 Precipitation ........................................................... 18 Phenomena ............................................................. 19 Environment ........................................................... 19 iii Contents (Continued) TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION .......... 19 Transportation ............................................................. 19 Roads ..................................................................... 21 Rail ......................................................................... 22 Airports .................................................................. 23 Maritime ................................................................ 25 Rivers ................................................................ 26 Ports .................................................................. 27 Communication ........................................................... 27 Radio and Television .............................................. 27 Telecommunication ................................................ 28 Internet ................................................................... 28 Newspapers and Magazines ................................... 29 Postal Services ....................................................... 29 Satellites ................................................................. 30 CULTURE ....................................................................... 30 Statistics ...................................................................... 30 Population Patterns ................................................ 31 Family .................................................................... 32 Role of Men and Women ....................................... 35 Education and Literacy Rate ....................................... 36 Recreation ................................................................... 36 Language ..................................................................... 37 Religion ....................................................................... 37 Customs and Courtesies .............................................. 38 Greetings ................................................................ 39 Gestures ................................................................. 41 Topics to avoid ....................................................... 41 Dress ...................................................................... 41 iv Contents (Continued) MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................. 42 Infectious Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ........ 42 Food- or Water-borne Diseases .............................. 43 Vector-borne Diseases ............................................ 43 Sexually Transmitted Diseases .............................. 44 Water-contact Diseases .......................................... 44 Respiratory-borne Diseases ................................... 44 Animal-contact Diseases ....................................... 44 Medical Capabilities ................................................... 45 Key Medical Facilities ................................................ 46 American British Cowdray (ABC) Hospital .......... 46 Central Military Hospital ....................................... 47 Hospital Angeles del Prado (del Pedegral) ............ 47 HISTORY ......................................................................... 48 Early History ............................................................... 48 Recent History ............................................................ 53 CHRONOLOGY .............................................................. 54 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS .................................. 56 Government ................................................................. 56 National Level ............................................................. 56 Executive Branch ................................................... 56 Legislative Branch ................................................. 57 Judicial Branch ...................................................... 58 Key Government Offices ............................................. 59 Politics ........................................................................ 61 Political Parties ...................................................... 61 Institutional Revolutionary Party ...................... 61 National Action Party ...................................... 61 Democratic Revolutionary Party ....................... 62 v Contents (Continued) Voting ..................................................................... 62 Foreign Relations ................................................... 62 International Organizations .................................... 64 ECONOMY ..................................................................... 65 Statistics ...................................................................... 65 Resources .................................................................... 66 Foreign Investment ................................................ 66 Reforms and Outlook ............................................. 66 THREAT .......................................................................... 67 CRIME ........................................................................ 67 Terrorism ..................................................................... 70 Zapatista National Liberation Army ...................... 70 Corruption ................................................................... 71 Drug Trafficking ......................................................... 71 ARMED FORCES ........................................................... 73 Organization of National Defense .............................. 73 Army ........................................................................... 74 Mission .................................................................. 74 Organization ........................................................... 74 Personnel ................................................................ 76 Equipment .............................................................. 76 Mission .................................................................. 77 Organization ........................................................... 77 Personnel ................................................................ 77 Equipment .............................................................. 78 Navy ............................................................................ 79 Mission .................................................................. 79 Personnel ................................................................ 80 Operational and Tactical Doctrine ......................... 81 vi Contents (Continued) Training .................................................................