The United States and Mexico share vitally important security, energy, and economic interests that require extensive cooperation and trust to achieve success. As Mexico’s president-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador prepares to take office in December, I believe the next chapter in U.S.-Mexico relations will be critical to building on current efforts and increasing positive results for both Americans and Mexicans alike.
Our two countries have a long history as neighbors, and we are deeply integrated on many critical security priorities. Violence in Mexico affects U.S. border towns, growing amounts of fentanyl and precursor chemicals from China are transiting Mexico to the United States, and opium poppy cultivation in Mexico continues to surge, contributing to the U.S. opioid crisis.
At the same time, U.S. demand for drugs and illegal arms trafficking flowing south fuels the insecurity plaguing Mexico. Transnational criminal organizations also viciously compete for territory to supply surging U.S. demand, escalating violence in local communities and diversifying their activities to include money laundering, fuel theft, illegal mining and human trafficking. Americans Are Loving This Now-Legal Painkiller (And It’s All-Natural) Last year, there were twenty-nine thousand murders in Mexico , including twelve journalists, making Mexico the world’s most violent country for journalists outside a war zone. At least 130 politicians in Mexico were also killed in the run-up to its elections in July. While Mexico has taken significant steps to address this spiraling security situation, corruption and impunity continue to challenge efforts.
I have spent a large part of my life advancing U.S. […]
Continue Reading Original Article: The Importance of U.S.-Mexico Border Security
