Mexico Reportedly Wants To Ramp Up Federal Police Force To Combat Cartels

Mexico has long been a thorn in the side of the American way of life. That is not saying the country is all bad, there are fine people there. But the country's government, which verges on a narco-democracy, has caused problems for the United States at every turn. From not combatting the drug cartels to encouraging millions of illegals to flood into the nation, Mexico has made life difficult for the U.S. As a result, the U.S. trust in Mexico has evaporated.

But now the new President Claudia Sheinbaum is trying to reunite ties between the two nations. She is now reportedly moving to strengthen the country's federal police force and step up their fight against the cartels. But those are just words and reports. Nothing has been backed up by action. Until action is taken, then trusting Mexico to do anything like this should be taken with a grain of salt.

Joshua Trevino of the Texas Public Policy Foundation says it is a great idea, but there needs to be substance.

"That does not mean we should not be aware this has a long way to go, and many things they will have to do to fully earn our trust," he says.

The trust has evaporated due to decades of nefarious deeds by the Mexican government. The entire establishment has been rife with cartel influence for years, and that never slowed down before Sheinbaum.

While she may have good intentions, it might not be enough to truly repair the bonds.

"We have to understand that regime is controlled by a political party that is itself a narco-state project," says Trevino. "The man who created that regime, Manuel Andres Obrador, was almost certainly on the payroll of the Sinaloa Cartel for about 20 years."

That is no new or shocking revelation. Narco-groups have controlled governments in Mexico, and most of South America, for decades. Mexico might be the biggest naro state in the world, or at least was at one point.

Again, maybe Sheinbaum is being genuine, and truly wants to help the situation. But this problem goes so far beyond her that her actions might not matter.

"It is still a regime that is shot through with cartel men, and they are partners at every level, including at the highest...there is a real systemic problem, independent of any one political figure," Trevino says.

Whether or not Mexico follow through with any action remains to be seen. Some action might be a crucial first step at repairing trust between Mexico and the U.S. But it is a baby step, with decades of mistrust to unravel.