Recent reports shed light on the effectiveness of security agreements between the United States and Mexico, raising concerns among lawmakers. Despite over $3.5 billion in US aid allocated for security cooperation since 2008, drug overdose deaths in the US have surged, while Mexico’s homicide rate has tripled between 2007 and 2023.
The study by Latin American affairs specialist Clare Ribando Seelke unveils troubling trends, with Fentanyl linked to a majority of US drug deaths. Amidst this worrying scenario, US-Mexico security cooperation has faced challenges, including criticism from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and strained relations over arrests and enforcement operations.
The Biden administration’s efforts to rebuild relations in 2021 were met with setbacks, culminating in the July 2024 detention of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, further straining ties. Critics argue that the existing agreement fails to address human rights abuses by Mexican security forces, adding complexity to ongoing cooperation efforts.