Mexican President: U.S. Must Share Responsibility in Drug War

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has called on the United States to take greater responsibility in the fight against drug trafficking, following recent revelations of corruption within the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

"We insist that they have a very important part to play over there and they shouldn't just keep pointing the finger at Mexico," Sheinbaum said during a press conference at the National Palace.

She noted that Mexico has successfully reduced the flow of fentanyl into the United States by more than 70 per cent — a figure that has been acknowledged by U.S. authorities. Sheinbaum added that it is within the United States itself where large-scale drug distribution and money laundering take place, driven largely by the country's high rate of drug consumption.

She also pointed out that Sara Carter, Director of the U.S. Office of National Drug Control Policy, has acknowledged that drug abuse in the United States constitutes a public health issue. According to Sheinbaum, Carter's office released a document in May in which the U.S. federal government recognised the need for a national public health policy to address drug addiction.

She further recalled that Carter visited Mexico earlier this year, during which she expressed interest in the Mexican government's initiatives aimed at tackling the root causes of violence and preventing drug use.