Between Securitization and Soft Power: Border Security Cooperation between Mexico and the United States in the Face of Fentanyl

Abstract

The rapid rise in fentanyl-related overdose deaths has reshaped the United States political agenda. Issues concerning illegal synthetic drug trafficking have transitioned from being primarily regarded as a public health crisis to being framed as a national security threat. This shift has had profound implications for U.S.-Mexico bilateral relations, resulting in extraordinary enforcement measures that have altered the terms of cooperation between the two governments. This thesis employs a qualitative case study methodology and discourse analysis of official statements, policy documents, and institutional communications produced between 2006 and 2026. As bilateral tensions escalated, both governments reinforced their respective framings of the crisis. Through securitization, the United States legitimizes extraordinary or unilateral actions, while Mexico's soft power approach transforms negotiation and resistance into what this thesis conceptualizes as "defensive soft power," a strategy for resisting externally imposed security pressure. This interaction has preserved operational cooperation but limited effectiveness in addressing the multifactorial effects of the crisis. By applying the concepts of competing framings and defensive soft power, this thesis analyzes the complexities of the U.S.-Mexico...