U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken. Photo: Google

PULSE NEWS MEXICO

After Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) downplayed U.S. concerns over the production and distribution of fentanyl by Mexican drug lords, joking sarcastically about a U.S. Senate proposal to cut aid to AMLO’s government if the situation continues unabated, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Friday that he will be flying to Mexico City this week to meet with the Mexican president.

Blinken, who is slated to also travel to Texas this week to review the mounting migrant crisis, will co-chair the 2023 U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue.

Secretary Blinken, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and White House Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, along with other senior U.S. government officials, will join their Mexican counterparts for a bilateral dialogue and stakeholder engagements.

Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian A. Nichols, and Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Todd D. Robinson will also join Secretary Blinken on this trip.

Through this dialogue, the United States and Mexico will discuss joint implementation of the U.S.-Mexico Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health and Safe Communities.