U.S.-Mexican Security Cooperation: the Merida Initiative and Beyond

In recent years, U.S.-Mexican security cooperation has increased significantly, largely as a result of the development and implementation of the Merida Initiative, a counterdrug and anti-crime assistance package for Mexico and Central America that was first proposed in October 2007. With the recent enactment of the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act H.R. 4899P.L. 111- 212, Congress has provided almost 1.8 billion for the Merida Initiative. Congress provided 248 million of that funding to Central America and included an additional 42 million for Caribbean countries. However, Congress has dedicated the vast majority of the funds--roughly 1.5 billion--to support programs in Mexico, with an emphasis on training and equipping Mexican military and police forces engaged in counterdrug efforts. Escalating drug traffickingrelated violence in Mexico and the increasing control that Mexican drug trafficking organizations DTOs have over the illicit drug market in the United States have focused congressional attention on the efficacy of U.S-Mexican efforts and related domestic initiatives in both countries.