Obama to join Mexico's war against drugs
Barack Obama due in Mexico City to reaffirm US commitment to war against drug trafficking
Also In The News
|
Manchester United have defeated Porto 3-2 on aggregate in their Champions League quarter-final. |  |
Thursday, 16, Apr 2009 06:05
Barack Obama is to reaffirm the United States commitment to Mexico's war against drugs when he flies in today for his second major overseas trip as president.
More than 10,000 people have died in the last two years through drug trafficking-related violence.
In his first visit to Latin America since becoming president, Mr Obama is due to spend 24 hours in Mexico City to hold talks with his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderon.
Mr Calderon is expected to implore President Obama to help curb demand for marijuana and cocaine north of the border, as well as put in new measures to stem the flow of weapons.
Denis McDonough, director of strategic communications at the White House's national security council, accepted that Mr Obama's trip reflected the importance of US-Mexican relations and the nature of the urgent situation.
"[The trip is] designed to send a very clear signal to our friends in Mexico City that we have a series of shared challenges as it relates to the economy, as it relates to security, insecurity, the threat of violence, and the impact of drug trafficking on both our countries," he said this week.
After Mexico City, President Obama is due to head to Trinidad and Tobago for the fifth annual Summit of the Americas.