President Obama’s recent visit to Mexico to meet President Felipe Calderon is the last of a long line of talks and agreements between both countries to strengthen border security. The main reason for the plan-called Plan Merida or Merida Initiative-is to support Mexico with $700 million dollars to strengthen and work with Mexican authorities in the fight against drug cartels.

The funding will help in some the following actions:

Issuance of inspection technology
Issuance of helicopters and surveillance aircraft for the Mexican military
Increase in cooperation with Mexican authorities in areas such as information and training
Assistance regarding reforms in the Mexican judicial system
Oversight of implementation of the Initiative

At the same time, agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms Agency (ATF), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), among others are developing plans to reinforce the Initiative and cooperate with the administration’s goal of securing the southern border.

All these actions are centered on the issue of drugs and arms smuggling along the US/Mexico border and the continuing fight against drug cartels.