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U.S. Military Signs on Mexican Beach Removed After 'Boundary Confusion', Contractors Blamed

On Nov. 17, six signs declaring a section of Playa Bagdad as "Department of Defense property" were placed on a Mexican beach and later removed by Mexican naval forces after being judged to be in error. A Joint Base San Antonio official said contractors installed the signs and that shifting shoreline conditions altered perceptions of the international boundary. The markers appear linked to plans for National Defense Areas along parts of the Texas border, which the U.S. Air Force will administer through Joint Base San Antonio.

10:10 AM, 11/22/2025Security
U.S. Military Signs on Mexican Beach Removed After 'Boundary Confusion', Contractors Blamed

Signs labeling a stretch of Mexican shoreline as “Department of Defense property” were posted at Playa Bagdad on Nov. 17 and promptly removed by Mexican authorities after the markers were deemed to have been placed in error.

The notices, printed in both English and Spanish, warned that the area was a restricted military zone. Naval personnel located and removed six placards at the popular beach — roughly 12 miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border and just outside the city of Matamoros — after determining the signs had been placed on Mexican territory.

A local official at Joint Base San Antonio said contractors working for the U.S. military installed the signs and that shifting water depth and shoreline topography affected how the international boundary was perceived on the ground. The official added that contractors will coordinate with appropriate agencies to prevent future confusion.

“Changes in water depth and topography altered the perception of the international boundary’s location,” a Joint Base San Antonio official said.

Mexican authorities issued a joint statement confirming the removal but said they could not immediately identify who had placed the signs. The Pentagon referred inquiries to the Air Force, which is slated to administer the nearby National Defense Area (NDA) through Joint Base San Antonio.

The markers appear linked to U.S. plans to establish NDAs along parts of the Texas border — an initiative intended to bolster security in selected zones. When visiting a newly established NDA in April, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said:

“This is Department of Defense property. Any illegal [attempt] to enter that zone is entering a military base — a federally protected area. You will be detained. You will be interdicted by U.S. troops and border patrol working together.”

Playa Bagdad is a well-known beach used by local residents and visitors and is also a popular vantage point for viewing rocket launches. The incident was resolved quickly with no reported injuries; Mexican naval forces removed the signs and the matter is being reviewed to avoid similar mistakes in future operations.

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