It is Barack Obama’s first trip to Mexico where he receives a warm welcome from President Felipe Calderon. The US president is here because he wants to raise the stakes in the war against drugs and offer the Mexican president more assistance in fighting against the ruthless drug cartels.

The new US administration is hoping relations with Latin American countries will soon improve and today Mr Obama will attend a summit in Trinidad and Tobago. President Obama said: “At a time when the Mexican government has taken on the drug cartels that have plagued both sides of the borders, it is absolutely critical the United States is dealing with this issue, both through initiatives like, but also on our side of the border in dealing with the flow of guns and cash.” Life is cheap in Mexico and turf wars between rival drug gangs are fuelled by cash and a ready supply of guns from America. The Mexican police are struggling to cope with the murders which last year claimed over 6000 lives. President Obama’s pledge to get a key vote in the US Senate passed – aimed at stemming the flow of guns to Mexico – will be a real help.More about: Barack Obama, Mexico, USA

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