Well-known is the US's active intervention in 20th-century Latin American politics, such as in Chile in the 1970s. Did the US intervene in the politics of its neighbor Mexico in the 20th century? If so, how?

by JJVMT
NateChampion

You are likely already aware of it, but the US was highly active in regards to Mexico during the Mexican Revolution and ultimately sent troops to Vera Cruz at one point, and then in 1916 sent an armed expedition into northern Mexico in pursuit of Pancho Villa. That lead to very tense relations with Villa's opponent, Carranza, and nearly lead the US enter war with what was the de facto, if not yet de jure, Mexican government.

This is a quite involved situation really because it starts off when Diaz was still trying to stay in power. After Modero took control the US mission in Mexico was hostile to him which brought encouragement to the military faction that deposed him. The civil war resulted and the US intervened, as noted, in Vera Cruz at one point and also quarantined the Gulf coast to prevent foreign arms from coming in. Under Wilson, the US stumbled into assisting Carranza against Villa by allowing him to transport troops across southern Texas, which in turn lead to the Villista raid against Columbus, New Mexico. That lead to the US "Punitive Expedition" in 1916-17 and very tense border relations for a long time thereafter.

Some good books on this are Eisnehower's "Intervention!" and the book Mexico, Biography of Power (which only deals with that in regards to certain chapters). There are quite a few others of course.