XINHUA

The Mexican government stressed on Sunday, Sept. 20, its willingness to work closely with U.S. authorities to combat drug trafficking and dismantle drug trafficking rings.

“The government of Mexico reiterates its willingness to continue working closely and in coordination with U.S. authorities for the benefit of the safety and health of the inhabitants of both countries, based on the principles of shared responsibility, mutual trust and respect for the sovereignty, jurisdiction and laws of both countries,” the Foreign Relations Secretariat (SRE) said in a press statement.

At the end of August 2019, the two governments created a High Level Security Group to serve “as a single channel to address common security priorities,” the SRE statement said.

“The strength of the bilateral relationship and the mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation demonstrate the commitment of both governments to foster friendly relations that allow them to address their concerns, as well as find joint solutions to shared challenges.”

The statement comes days after the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump complained that Mexico was not doing enough to contain the flow of illicit drugs into the United States.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), who took office in December 2018, reformulated the country’s anti-drug trafficking strategy “with a comprehensive vision that addresses this phenomenon from the perspectives of security, public health, development, justice and well-being.”

According to Lopez Obrador, the way to effectively combat crime is to invest in education and welfare programs that steer youth away from criminal activity, in conjunction with anti-narcotics operations.

…Sept. 21, 2020