# What if?....Mexico leases bases to Russia? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 27, 2017, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345 "2017-01-27T22:51:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ken001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@Ken001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ken001)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345/21 "2017-01-28T18:41:37Z")
I’m confused. The US has military bases in Turkey which is right next to Russia. A very close and present danger - to Russia. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345/22 "2017-01-28T19:01:36Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > The USA is already in NATO and has far more influence with other NATO countries than Mexico, so in a fight between the USA and Mexico, the USA would trump. So the US keeps Mexico out because we’re enemies and might go to war? Wouldn’t both being members lessen the risk of conflict? Mexico has even been buying military equipment from the US lately. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345/23 "2017-01-28T19:03:58Z")
> [@Ken001](#): > > I’m confused. The US has military bases in Turkey which is right next to Russia. A very close and present danger - to Russia. Nobody thinks the US or NATO is going to invade Russia. Russia knows this full well. Lots of countries quite rightly fear living next to Russia. Everybody knows that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345/24 "2017-01-28T19:14:21Z")
Why would Russia want bases in Mexico? They can handle their ELINT and SIGINT without a fixed base in the region, and they simply are not interested in an arms build-up in the region or in controlling countries in the region. Quite simply, there is no need for Russia to develop military interests in the region because it has no interest in the region the way is does have various interests in the regions surrounding its borders. It is to Mexico’s advantage to simply wait out Trump, and to continue to develop trade with other countries. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345/25 "2017-01-28T19:37:25Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > So the US keeps Mexico out because we’re enemies and might go to war? Wouldn’t both being members lessen the risk of conflict? Mexico has even been buying military equipment from the US lately. Whether Mexico were or were not a member of NATO would not make any difference if Trump wanted to go wage war against Mexico, simply because no NATO nation would support such a war regardless of whether Mexico were or were not part of NATO, and no NATO nation would go to war against the USA, regardless of whether Mexico were or were not part of NATO. The pressure put on Trump and the USA would be great, regardless of NATO memberships. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345/26 "2017-01-28T19:43:13Z")
> [@Muffin](#): > > > [@ekedolphin](#): > > > > A Russian military base in North America is a clear and present danger to the United States. > > And so is Trump. Of the two, I’d rather have the Russian military base. You can reason with the Russians. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345/27 "2017-01-28T20:28:12Z")
Mexico prevents about 90K illegal Central American immigrants from transiting Mexico and crossing illegally over into the USA each year. If Trump puts financial sanctions on the Mexico because Mexico refuses to pay tribute to him via his wall, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mexico dramatically cuts back on funding its own Southern Border Program rather than inviting in the Russians, and thereby leaves Trump to deal with a further 90K illegals per year to catch and deal with. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345/28 "2017-01-28T20:47:01Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > Why doesn’t Mexico join NATO? Are they not invited? They don’t want to? It would be too hard meeting the requirements? Regarding a fight in Europe, Mexico just doesn’t have the capabilities to send more than a token force. And why would they care if there’s another Balkan war? Regarding a fight in N. America, there’s the OAS and other treaties that provide mutual assistance. They have enough crap to deal with. They don’t need to go looking for more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-if-mexico-leases-bases-to-russia/778345.md?page=1)