POINT PAPER FOR POSSIBLE NSC MEETING ON MEXICO-US SUMMIT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90T00435R000100020017-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 16, 2013
• Sequence Number: 17
• Publication Date: February 8, 1988
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/05/16: CIA-RDP90T00435R000100020017-2
.I I'D
SET 25X1
The Director of Central Intelligence
Washington, D.C. 20505
National Intelligence Council
NIC 00480-88
8 February 1988
MEMORANDUM FOR: Director of Central Intelligence
Deputy Director of Central Intelligence
FROM: H. F. Hutchinson, Jr.
Acting Chairman
SUBJECT: Point Paper for Possible NSC Meeting on
Mexico-US Summit
1. When NIC officer,) I was Acting National Intelligence
Officer for Latin America, he prepared the attached memorandum at the
request of Jose Sorzano of the National Security Council. Sorzano was
looking for good agenda items for President Reagan's 13 February summit with
the Mexican President.
2. His proposal--Mexican/Soviet Relations and Soviet Intelligence
Activities in Mexico--has been favorably received at all levels of the NSC
and by Assistant Secretary of State for Inter-American Affairs,
Elliott Abrams. It is likely to be raised, moreover, at an NSC meeting
sometime next week.
3. We understand from an NSC staffer that Colin Powell may wish to have
you amplify on the subject of Soviet-Mexican relations at a yet unscheduled
meeting of the NSC. I suggest, therefore, that you consider the attached
one-page Talking Points and memorandum. The CI Staff and the Latin American
Division coordinated on the memorandum.
Attachments:
as stated above
CL BY SIGNER
DECL: OADR
/C_y(
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/05/16: CIA-RDP90T00435R000100020017-2
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/05/16: CIA-RDP90T00435R000100020017-2
POINT PAPER: SOVIET PRESENCE IN MEXICO
OVERVIEW: MOUNTING SOVIET INTEREST IN MEXICO
Soviet interest in Mexico has rapidly expanded over the last
decade, and under Gorbachev has reached unprecedented levels.
Gorbachev wants to travel to Mexico this year or next, and
his keen interest has been reflected in the Soviet media,
academic literature, and visits by other high level Soviets.
Moscow hopes that Mexico will: 1) continue to challenge the
US in key areas of our foreign policy; 2) serve as a safe and
convenient operating base for an enormous Soviet intelligence
collection effort against the US; and 3) agree to even closer
bilateral ties, including a new Soviet consulate near the US
border.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
-- Soviet and Mexican spokesmen have denied that they have
discussed plans for a new consulate, but it is likely that
Gorbachev will push hard for this when he visits Mexico.
-- He will probably also want to increase the number of Soviet
officials in Mexico City, a large percentage of whom are
intelligence officers targetted against the US.
WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?
-- De la Madrid should be urged to reduce the number of Soviet
officials presently in Mexico because an inordinately large
number are engaged in intelligence activities.
-- For example, although Soviet-Mexican trade is miniscule,
Moscow has 40 "commercial officers" at its embassy in Mexico
City, and will probably seek to expand trade so that
additional "commercial officers" can be posted there.
-- Although the US is the main target of Soviet intelligence
activities, individual Mexicans and important interests
groups there could also be vulnerable to Soviet subversion.
-- Mexico should resist any Soviet move to open a new consulate,
especially one near the US border.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/05/16: CIA-RDP90T00435R000100020017-2
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