Mexico City, Mexico — US and Mexican officials met late last week in an information exchange between the two countries. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon held a meeting with Connecticut Senator, Chris Murphy, Illinois Congressman Jesús García and Missouri Congresswoman, Cori Bush.
The group discussed migration, economic relations, cultural ties and cooperation in security matters. On this last point, the relevance of combating arms trafficking was highlighted as a priority issue on the shared agenda since it has considerable affects on both sides of the border.
The discussion was also held to advance on issues of illicit firearms trafficking. Secretary Ebrard recalled that Mexico’s security strategy is focused on reducing the availability of weapons for criminal groups, reducing the recruitment capacity of said groups, and reducing drug consumption in Mexico and drug trafficking to the United States.
“Within the framework of the Bicentennial Understanding, both governments have made progress in confronting illicit firearms trafficking by increasing the exchange of information and the professionalization of Mexican officials at the federal and state levels, both in terms of ballistic analysis and in the registration and tracking of firearms from the United States,” Ebrard posted in a statement.
In this regard, the visiting delegation presented the progress made in the fight against arms trafficking in their country where a review of the United States legislation that regulates the cross-border trafficking of firearms and the corresponding penalties has been carried out to improve the application of the law.
Undertaking concrete actions to stop the flow of arms to Mexico is a priority of the binational relationship and the progress in the matter demonstrates it.
Mexico reiterated the importance of curbing arms trafficking, not only at the governmental level in terms of control and sanctions for arms consumers, but also seeking that firearms companies take responsibility for their products illegally trafficked into our country, emphasizing the importance of actions such as the litigation undertaken by this Foreign Ministry against arms-producing companies in the United States.
Both sides will continue to work jointly to strengthen the relationship and find solutions to their shared problems.
