Hillary Clinton in Mexico: Drug Wars, Trucking Dispute, and Other Issues on a Crowded Agenda

As Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins a two-day visit to Mexico—her first as the top U.S. diplomat—she will emphasize the "complexity and range" of relations and not just headline-grabbing drug violence, a senior State Department official says.

"It is our purpose and our intent that the relationship is not only defined by the urgent," the official said, a clear reference to the stunning level of drug-related killing in Mexico. The violence, which left 6,290 people dead last year, has prompted a major security campaign by Mexican Army and police units, as well as a new Obama administration plan unveiled this week to concentrate U.S. law enforcement assets on ensuring that the violence does not spill over the border and cracking down on the cross-border drug and gun trades. That plan also entails stepped-up coordination with Mexican security agencies. Many of the guns used in the killings were purchased in the United States.

The White House announcement of the plan focused on law-and-order issues. But from a diplomatic standpoint, State Department officials are clearly concerned that the focus on drug violence will stir up traditional Mexican sensitivities that interpret Washington's view of Mexico as basically a source of problems and disorder rather than a neighbor.

The State Department official said that Mexico's role as a major trading partner of the United States and its diplomatic place in the Summit of the Americas and the Organization of American States shape the administration's view of Mexico. 

The current dispute over Mexican trucks entering the United States—a trade as well as a security issue—is also likely to be covered in the Clinton talks; the official said the State and Transportation departments are working with Congress to identify a workable trucking safety pilot program.

The official predicted that Clinton will emphasize a theme of "balanced partnership" that acknowledges the role that U.S.-sourced weapons and currency laundering are playing in the Mexican drug syndicates. The official also said the discussions in Mexico City would cover the need for "transparency" in the relationship and shared interests outside of the immediate neighborhood, throughout the Western Hemisphere and the world.

Clinton is to meet with Mexican President Felipe Calderón, the country's foreign minister, attorney general, Public Security Ministry, and top police officials. She will also speak with Mexican opinion leaders.

Later, she will travel to Monterrey in northern Mexico, where she will meet with university students and attend a renewable energy event. The Monterrey stop also reflects the U.S. desire "to not allow Mexico to be pigeonholed by one or two issues," said the official. "It allows us to emphasize aspects of our relationship that aren't necessarily pushing to the forefront right now." The official rejected the notion that "damage control" would play an important role in the trip, saying instead, "This is going to be a very important trip for defining what comes next in our relationship."

• Read about concerns that Mexico's drug-fueled violence will move into the United States.
• Read "Canada, Mexico Prepare Wish Lists for the Obama Administration."