Annual defense budget: $5.32bn 

Defense spending trend: Down 6% in 2002

The military has, on the whole, avoided direct interference in politics and has no ambitions beyond the country's borders. The army's main role is to defend internal security; border control is handled by the police. The military is now closely involved in antinarcotics efforts. Most arms procurement is from the US.

The Zapatista rebellion in Chiapas in 1994 elicited a brutal response from the army, acting on PRI orders. The increasing militarization of the small state over the next six years hindered the peace process and led to a proliferation of paramilitaries, with the tacit blessing of the local PRI, who were blamed by human rights groups for the massacre of Amerindians. The PAN government has withdrawn some forces from key areas.

MEXICAN ARMED FORCES

Army
		No main battle tanks		144,000 personnel
Navy
		3 destroyers, 8 frigates, and 109 patrol boats		37,000 personnel
Air force
		107 combat aircraft (8 F-5E, 2 F-5F, 70 PC-7, 17 AT-33)		11,770 personnel
Nuclear capability
		None

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004