Obama and Calderon pledge unity in fighting drug cartels

May 19, 2010, 18:23 GMT

Washington - The United States and Mexico are strongly committed to fighting the violent drug cartels and cracking down on the trade of narcotics, the leaders of the two countries vowed Wednesday.

US President Barack Obama and Mexican President Felipe Calderon pledged to take steps on both sides of the border to go after the cartels behind a drug war in Mexico that has claimed thousands of lives.

'Mr President, you and the Mexican people have shown great resolve in a fight for the security and safety of your country,' Obama told Calderon. 'And as I've pledged to you before, Mexico can count on the United States as a full partner in this effort.'

Obama said the US government will continue to find ways to cut back on the demand for illicit drugs in the United States and has stepped up inspections of railways into Mexico to prevent arms from ending up in the hands of the cartels.

The United States has been the largest of sources of weapons getting into Mexico and used by the drug cartels, and the Mexican government has urged Washington to act against the flow of weapons.

'Through increased law enforcement on our side of the border, we're putting unprecedented pressure on those who traffic in guns, drugs and people,' Obama said. 'We're working to stem the south-bound flow of American guns and money, which is why, for the first time, we are now screening 100 per cent of south-bound rail cargo.'

Under the US Merida Initiative, the United States has provided Mexico with more than 1 billion dollars in training and equipment to help crack down on the cartels.

'We agreed upon the urgency of reinforcing the actions to stop the flow of drugs, weapons and cash,' Calderon said through a translator.

Obama met with Calderon Wednesday morning at the White House. In the evening Obama will host Calderon for a state dinner, one of the highest honours afforded a foreign leader.