ISTANBUL
The US and Mexico agreed Wednesday to strengthen security cooperation against transnational organized crime, fentanyl trafficking and illegal border crossings.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Foreign Secretary Juan Ramon de la Fuente to "formalize” the “unprecedented" bilateral security collaboration.
The governments issued a statement affirming their security cooperation is based on "principles of reciprocity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, shared and differentiated responsibility, as well as mutual trust."
"The aim is to work together to dismantle transnational organized crime through enhanced cooperation between our respective national security and law enforcement institutions, and judicial authorities," it said.
The two countries also said they would address the issue of preventing illegal crossings at their shared border. This “will strengthen security along our shared border, halt the trafficking of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, and stop arms trafficking,” according to the statement.
The statement outlined cooperation to "address illicit financial flows, enhance collaboration to prevent fuel theft, increase inspections, investigations, and prosecutions to stop the flow of drugs and arms."
The agreement includes public health collaboration and coordinated campaigns to prevent substance abuse.
- Historic cooperation
Rubio, speaking alongside la Fuente, characterized the cooperation as reaching historic levels.
He emphasized that geography makes the countries permanent neighbors, requiring continued collaboration.
"This is an important and ... a significant day in the relations of our two countries as we are able to continue to formalize this unprecedented, historic, and so far, highly successful security cooperation," said Rubio.
He said his meeting with Sheinbaum, which took "quite a long time," and was "productive."
Underlining the four main principles, Sheinbaum wrote on the US social media company X that both sides agreed to work on border security and law enforcement.
De la Fuente said Sheinbaum and Rubio discussed diverse topics regarding relations, including security matters.
He said the meeting confirmed good relations and excellent cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
Rubio is on a three-day trip to Mexico and Ecuador, in which he is expected to discuss actions to dismantle cartels, halt fentanyl trafficking, end illegal immigration and expand economic cooperation with Latin American officials.
The trip will mark Rubio’s fourth foreign visit in the Western Hemisphere since taking office
The visit comes amid tensions in the region as a US naval group of seven warships and a fast-attack submarine began arriving in the southern Caribbean, a source familiar with the matter told Anadolu on condition of anonymity.