Is the Merida Initiative Really Working?

Nicholas Allwell

Relaciones Internacionales – UDLAP

400356

Universidad de las Américas Puebla

            The Drug War in Mexico has created a lot of controversy in the United States about border security. And it’s understandable. Mexico has lost over 40,000 people as result of the violence brought about by the mafias who control the drug routes throughout the country. Not only that, but certain cartels have also begun to interest themselves in other illegal activities, such as human trafficking, gambling, and money laundering. Most recently, in 2007, the United States started the ‘Merida Initiative’, which was a way for the US to show its full support towards Mexico while it fights the Drug War President Calderón declared after he took office in 2006. The Merida Initiative’s effectiveness though has been criticized and the United States approach to curb the illegal transnational activities that occur over the border has been seen as preemptive, or even a little rash. The United States’ position towards the drug war in Mexico is a classic example of a world power trying to curb the threat of a clandestine organization. Though if you were one of the most powerful countries in the world threatened by a group of drug trafficking mafias at a border that stretches over 2,000 kilometers, one should ask how they would act differently.

            The Merida Initiative has been the largest plan by the United States government to prevent the flow of drugs into the United States in recent years. Between 2007 and 2010, the United States Department of State has pledged $1.4 billion to Mexico, Central America, and to the island of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), with most funds being sent to Mexico. The four main goals of the Merida Initiative are: (1) break the power and impunity of criminal organizations; (2) strengthen border, air, and maritime controls; (3) improve the capacity of justice systems in the region; and (4) curtail gang activity and diminish the demand for drugs in the region (GAO-10-253R Mérida Initiative Funding, 5). Much of the aid has been given through training to improve intelligence and drug trafficking enforcement, along with training and support for technology and new equipment given through US funding.

            Although it is nice to see that the funding given by the Merida Initiative has gone past just sending millions of dollars to foreign governments, the results haven’t been as successful as originally hoped. One could say that the problem is that the United States government is handling the current drug war situation in Mexico like President Reagan handled the drug problem in the US in the 1980’s. The technology and intelligence sent from the US government to the Mexican government is used for the goal of incarcerating those who traffic drugs. The US State Department has said that in order to end the Mexican Drug War, one must go straight to the source and cut off the drug trade from its roots. Although this may be true, is it really effective and efficient to simply arrest as many people involved with the drug trade as possible, and then put them in prison where they able to collude with other members of drug cartels? Along with that, can the United States be confident in the Mexican judicial system? Since the point when President Felipe Calderón declared his war against the Mexican drug cartels, hundreds, and possibly even thousands of people have escaped from Mexican prisons, including the head of the Sinaloa Cartel, Joaquín Guzmán Loera (el Chapo, or ‘Shorty’ in English).

            The point being made is not to discredit the United States government’s attempts to curb the drug trade in Mexico and protect its border, nor the Mexican government’s attempts to end the violence in its country. Though the inefficiency brought by corruption in Mexico and the American government’s inability to change its policy towards the problem of drugs trafficked through Mexico is not helping. Until both countries change certain policies domestically and externally, the Merida initiative will be a waste of funds that will be considered a noble, but futile attempt on the part of the US State Department to win the drug war and protect its southern border.

Works Cited

Brands, Hal. United States. US Army War of College Strategic Studies Institute.

            MEXICO'S NARCO-INSURGENCY AND U.S. COUNTERDRUG POLICY. 2009.

"Mérida Initiative." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 6, Oct 2011. Web.

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merida_initiative>.

Millete, James L. United States. Government Accountability Office.

Status of Funds for the Mérida Initiative. Washington D.C.. 2009.