Mexico and the United States redesigned the bilateral security strategy and in October 2021 they signed the Bicentennial Understanding.
In an environment in which the violence of criminal groups has intensified and drug trafficking continues to increase, both countries are faced with the task of rethinking their way of dealing with the situation.
Heide Fulton, deputy secretary of the Bureau of Counternarcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the US Department of State, explains that the first steps to reduce violence and combat drug trafficking are at the border.
A surgical intervention based on the objective of reducing homicides and having safer communities on both sides of the border.
On a visit to Mexico City, Fulton talks to EL PAÍS after participating in a conference on women and security,
Ask.
Mexico is facing a very complicated moment in the fight against violence and drug cartels.
How can the Bicentennial Understanding help to face it without delay?
Answer.
Mexico is one of our most important partners, we share 200 years of history and deep cultural ties.
The Bicentennial Understanding is the next chapter in our collaboration on security.
We have partnered very effectively with the Mexican government in previous administrations through the Merida Initiative.
Now the objectives and priorities are going to change and will be adjusted according to the current circumstances on the ground and in the political sphere.
This is the right time to reconsider and reevaluate our shared priorities.
The Mexican government recognizes the problems that both countries are facing.
So it is important that we look at these problems holistically and try to find comprehensive solutions.
Q.
In what areas does Mexico have more opportunities to start working quickly?
R.
We are working on improving our cooperation and integration on the border, because it is a place that needs to be safe.
We have to make sure that bad things and people are not transiting there in either direction.
But at the same time we have to work to ensure that goods and services cross the border as quickly as possible because that makes both countries competitive and prosperous.
For example, we are doing a border assessment to get recommendations on how we can be more efficient.
The study will be published next month and then we will work with our Mexican counterparts to make improvements and adjustments on both sides of the border.
P.
In recent weeks there have been some extraditions of Mexican criminals to the United States.
There is a perception in Mexico that justice is only obtained in US courts.
How can the Bicentennial Understanding help strengthen the Mexican justice system?
A.
We are looking for ways to improve our collaboration, strengthen the capacity of prosecutors to prosecute criminals through a transparent and expeditious judicial process.
One of the priorities of the Bicentennial Understanding is to reduce homicides, so the ability of state actors to investigate, prosecute and bring criminals to justice is paramount.
Therefore, we are working with the Mexican Government on how to channel and prioritize our efforts to ensure that we are empowering those who have been entrusted with the responsibility of undertaking this very difficult work.
P.
They are holding a conference on women and security, in Mexico at least 10 women are murdered a day because of their gender.
What is the commitment that Mexico is making on this issue?
A.
We are working with our partners to find ways to underscore the dramatic nature of this issue.
Because ultimately, if we can stop gender-based violence, I think that will have an impact in terms of the economic prosperity of women and their families, in terms of the potential of those women and the future of their families, for example, in terms of their considerations on whether to try to migrate or leave their communities.
Q.
Are Mexican women turning to the United States for help?
R.
Not necessarily, although migration is obviously part of our dynamic with Mexico.
Certainly there are some who have fled due to the violent conditions they are facing.
When they run out of options, that's one of the tough decisions people make.
Our objective is to try to improve the conditions of these women in their communities, so that they are not forced to make such a difficult decision as to leave.
Q.
Last week the United Nations published a study on the financing of narcotics.
They reported that the Mexican cartels move about 25,000 million dollars a year and that they do so largely through cryptocurrencies.
What have you observed about the new forms of these organizations to finance themselves?
A.
Unfortunately, the cartels have resources and are very creative.
They are constantly looking for ways to exploit weaknesses in any type of supervisory structure.
Cryptocurrency is a new area that is still in the process of developing controls and protections.
But money laundering is a topic of great interest and importance to us, because we need to find ways to prevent those illegal transactions that make cartel activities possible.
Q.
Is Mexico capable of stopping financing through this technology?
A.
It's like any other new area where we see a rise in criminal activity.
We have to be in constant contact to share experiences, new information and knowledge to find the best way to tackle these problems, because financial flows are an area where criminals find a way to circumvent borders.
They don't really respect borders.
Therefore, we must ensure that we are in sync, exchanging information and collaborating in the most effective way possible.
Because where there is a weakness, it is going to be exploited by criminals.
Q.
There is also the increase in fentanyl trafficking in recent years.
R.
The increase in fentanyl trafficking concerns us because more than 100,000 Americans died last year in opioid-related deaths.
Fentanyl is a drug that can be produced very cheaply, so it's easy for cartels to get involved.
Hence the importance in the control and detection of precursors.
This is an area where we work very closely with the Mexican government because we see the precursors flow through Mexico and eventually the fentanyl makes its way into the United States.
We need to improve our collaboration at ports to monitor and stop the flow of precursors.
Although I am citing statistics on the number of Americans who have died from this, it is a growing concern in Mexico.
We are seeing more and more deaths from this here as well.
Q.
Is the Mexican government committed to this matter?
R.
It is a goal articulated in the Bicentennial Understanding.
We have the express intention and willingness to move forward in this area.
We have heard President López Obrador's comments about the dangers of synthetic drugs and his desire to collaborate constructively on this.
Q.
Mexican officials are also working on the fight against arms trafficking from the United States, including a lawsuit against manufacturers in Massachusetts.
What is the position of the United States on this issue?
A.
I can't talk about the demand, but we recognize illegal arms trafficking as a priority for the Mexican government and, frankly, the arms that enter Mexico return to the United States as synthetic and illegal drugs.
That is why we have a tremendous interest in reducing the flow of weapons into Mexico.
We are collaborating in a working group to find ways to strengthen border controls to reduce the flow of weapons, and also in mechanisms such as extraditions and other judicial measures, such as penalizing those who are illegally importing weapons into Mexico.
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