▲ The Secretary of the Navy (center) took the oath of three admirals and a vice admiral who will head the new areas.Photo Germán Canseco
Gustavo Castillo García
La Jornada Newspaper
Saturday, January 17, 2026, p. 4
Admiral Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles stated that the adjustments in the operational structure of the Mexican Navy-Secretary of the Navy (Semar) are to “address new challenges and threats in the technological, computer, and communications spectrum, as well as consolidate a comprehensive maritime stewardship” that the country needs.
The changes place the institution in two large areas –both pillars of national naval development–, since the entire operation in terms of collaboration for public security, special operations, against organized crime, intelligence, cybersecurity and others, will depend directly on the High Command, as announced during the swearing-in ceremony for senior officials.
In this context, admirals José Manuel Salinas Pérez were appointed, who will be in charge of the Headquarters of Naval Operations; Carlos Eduardo L’Eglise Escamilla was appointed inspector and comptroller general of Semar, and Gerardo de Jesús Toledo Guzmán, who will be undersecretary of Maritime and Port Affairs, as well as Vice Admiral Daniel Escobedo Escobedo, who will be the first commander of the Central Naval Region (previously it was the High Command Headquarters), in Mexico City.
Morales Ángeles indicated that “these adjustments obey a clear strategic logic, consisting of separating functions, specializing responsibilities, strengthening operational command, as well as addressing new challenges and threats.
“Because a country with more than 11 thousand kilometers of coastline with two oceans, with an economy deeply linked to maritime trade and with growing responsibilities for internal and external security, requires a modern, agile, articulated naval institution with clarity of command.”
The Headquarters of Naval Operations will be in charge of the coordination of Surface Units, Aeronautics and Marine Corps, and will be in general charge of Natural Disaster Response.
This structure will operate with 11 areas that will also be in charge of the Personnel, Intelligence, Operations, Logistics, Plans and Cybersecurity sections; also those of Maritime and Port Protection, Public Security Support Tasks, Artificial Intelligence, Laws and Regulations and Communications.
Likewise, he will be responsible for working together with the commands of the nine naval regions and the two naval forces (Pacific and Atlantic).
Regarding the creation of the Undersecretary of Maritime and Port Affairs, which will be in charge of Toledo Guzmán, it will have two units: the National Maritime Authority, as an operational arm, and the Ports and Merchant Navy, as a regulatory and public policy body, and its responsibility will be the surveillance and regulation of everything related to port captaincies and the Merchant Navy.
