Russia’s Growing Digital Influence Sparks Concern in Mexico and the US
In recent years, Russia has dramatically expanded its disinformation efforts throughout Latin America, with a particularly acute focus on Mexico, the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. According to a confidential U.S. diplomatic cable and independent watchdog organizations, Kremlin-controlled media outlets such as Sputnik and RT (Russia Today) are orchestrating a broad campaign aimed at undermining the United States’ reputation and weakening regional alliances.
RT’s Rapid Expansion in Mexico: A Diplomatic Red Flag
A diplomatic cable dated April 2024, candidly titled “Mexico: RT’s Invasion,” revealed that American diplomats were alarmed by the “sudden and dramatic expansion” of RT’s presence in Mexico. The cable described a strategic push by RT to “build its credibility and undermine the United States,” emphasizing its well-funded operations intended to sway public opinion.
Of particular note, RT’s online reach exploded from a mere 191,000 views on the platform X (formerly Twitter) in 2022 to an astonishing 715 million views by 2023. This surge reflects Moscow’s broader ambition to cultivate influence over a potential audience exceeding 670 million people across Latin America.
Allegations of Sympathetic Elements Within Mexican Leadership
The cable also hinted at possible domestic allies within Mexico’s political landscape, implicating individuals reportedly sympathetic to Russian narratives within the administration of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). Though López Obrador’s term ended in October 2024, his political party, Morena, remains in power and has been associated with officials reportedly favorable to Russia’s messaging, according to American diplomatic sources.
Repeated requests for comment from President López Obrador and Morena officials went unanswered, maintaining a veil of ambiguity over potential domestic complicity.
International Reactions and Legal Measures
Beyond U.S. concerns, British and French diplomats have also raised issues regarding Russia’s intrusive tactics with Mexico’s foreign ministry, although the ministry declined to comment publicly. Meanwhile, a 2024 investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice unearthed a Moscow-backed disinformation network targeting American citizens and Washington’s allies with the aim of fueling anti-American sentiment and exacerbating diplomatic rifts.
This crackdown resulted in the shutdown of several websites propagating false narratives, illustrating the tangible threat Russian disinformation poses to regional stability.
The Mechanics of Moscow’s Media Playbook
Content Dissemination, Training, and Local Partnerships
Russian media outlets are not just broadcasting propaganda—they have embedded themselves deeply by offering training sessions for journalists and students across Latin America. Recent RT events in Venezuela saw attendees openly chanting slogans supporting Russia and President Vladimir Putin, indicating a highly charged promotional atmosphere.
In Mexico, RT’s collaboration with the Journalists Club, a prominent association supported by the Mexican Senate, exemplifies Moscow’s strategy of influencing media narratives from within. The club’s biweekly magazine has republished RT articles extensively, with over 50% of its content since April sourced directly from Kremlin media.
Mouris Salloum George, president of the Journalists Club, attributes this to RT’s offers of free content, underscoring how financial leverage facilitates such partnerships.
High-Profile Endorsements and Controversies
Even notable figures such as Jenaro Villamil, head of Mexico’s State Broadcasting System, have been implicated in amplifying Russian narratives by sharing Kremlin-sourced content on social media, though he clarifies that these actions represent his personal views, not government policy.
One particularly damaging claim propagated involves accusations that the U.S. recruited Mexican and Colombian drug cartels to combat Russia—a narrative broadly debunked but echoed in regional Spanish-language media. These disinformation threads often exploit veterans who volunteered to fight in Ukraine to fabricate misleading stories.
The Broader Geopolitical Implications
Experts warn that Russia’s intensified media outreach in Latin America reflects a calculated effort to carve out regional influence at a time when U.S. presence in global information spaces has receded. The closure of the U.S. Agency for Global Media’s (USAGM) international broadcasters during the Trump administration, including the Voice of America’s Russian service, created a strategic void that Moscow eagerly fills.
Bret Schafer, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, highlights the enduring Cold War subtext driving Moscow’s moves: “Russia views Latin America as a preferred sphere to exert influence, especially as the U.S. pulls back from projecting its soft power.”
This delicate tug-of-war over hearts and minds in the Western Hemisphere resonates beyond media circles, presenting serious challenges for U.S. foreign policy aimed at preserving hemispheric solidarity and countering malign foreign influence.
Questions Left Unanswered
- To what extent does the current Mexican administration actively resist or engage with Kremlin-backed narratives?
- How are local media organizations and civil society responding to the influx of Russian content?
- What renewed strategies can the United States adopt to reclaim influence in the Latin American information space?
Editor’s Note
Russia’s disinformation campaign in Mexico exemplifies a wider geopolitical contest where information is weaponized to fracture alliances and mold public opinion. This ongoing battle underscores the urgent need for robust, transparent media literacy initiatives, stronger diplomatic engagement, and coordinated international responses. Going forward, understanding how such influence operations interweave with local political dynamics is crucial for safeguarding democratic resilience across the Americas.
As digital narratives increasingly shape foreign policy outcomes, the U.S. and its partners must reconsider their approach to information warfare—striking a balance between countering disinformation and respecting media freedoms—while addressing the root causes that make populations vulnerable to external influence campaigns.
