Crime

Main articles: Crime in Mexico, Mexican Drug War, and Human trafficking in Mexico

Drug cartels are a major concern in Mexico.[196] Mexico's drug war, ongoing since 2006, has left
over 120,000 dead and perhaps another 37,000 missing.[33] The Mexican drug cartels have as
many as 100,000 members.[197] Mexico's National Geography and Statistics Institute estimated
that in 2014, one-fifth of Mexicans were victims of some sort of crime.[198] The U.S. Department
of State warns its citizens to exercise increased caution when traveling in Mexico, issuing
travel advisories on its website.[199]

Demonstration on 26 September 2015, in the first anniversary of the disappearance of the 43 students in
the Mexican town of Iguala

President Felipe Calderón (2006–12) made eradicating organized crime one of the top
priorities of his administration by deploying military personnel to cities where drug cartels
operate. This move was criticized by the opposition parties and the National Human Rights
Commission for escalating the violence,[200] but its effects have been positively evaluated by the
US State Department's Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs as
having obtained "unprecedented results" with "many important successes".[201]
Since President Felipe Calderón launched a crackdown against cartels in 2006, more than
28,000 alleged criminals have been successfully killed.[202][203] Of the total drug-related violence
4% are innocent people,[204] mostly by-passers and people trapped in between shootings; 90%
accounts for criminals and 6% for military personnel and police officers.[204] In October 2007,
President Calderón and US president George W. Bush announced the Mérida Initiative, a plan
of law enforcement cooperation between the two countries.[205]
More than 100 journalists and media workers have been killed or disappeared since 2000, and
most of these crimes remained unsolved, improperly investigated, and with few perpetrators
arrested and convicted.[206][207]
The mass kidnapping of the 43 students in Iguala on 26 September 2014 triggered nationwide
protests against the government's weak response to the disappearances and widespread
corruption that gives free rein to criminal organizations.[208]
Foreign relations

Former President Enrique Peña Nieto with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Former
President Barack Obama of the United States at the 2016 North American Leaders' Summit

Main article: Foreign relations of Mexico

The foreign relations of Mexico are directed by the President of Mexico[209] and managed
through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[210] The principles of the foreign policy are
constitutionally recognized in the Article 89, Section 10, which include: respect for international
law and legal equality of states, their sovereignty and independence, trend to non-
interventionism in the domestic affairs of other countries, peaceful resolution of conflicts, and
promotion of collective security through active participation in international
organizations.[209] Since the 1930s, the Estrada Doctrine has served as a crucial complement to
these principles.[211]
Mexico is founding member of several international organizations, most notably the United
Nations,[212] the Organization of American States,[213] the Organization of Ibero-American
States,[214] the OPANAL[215] and the Rio Group.[216] In 2008, Mexico contributed over 40
million dollars to the United Nations regular budget.[217] In addition, it was the only Latin
American member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development since it
joined in 1994 until Chile gained full membership in 2010.[218][219]
Mexico is considered a regional power[220][221] hence its presence in major economic groups
such as the G8+5 and the G-20. In addition, since the 1990s Mexico has sought a reform of
the United Nations Security Council and its working methods[222] with the support of Canada,
Italy, Pakistan and other nine countries, which form a group informally called the Coffee
Club.[223]
After the War of Independence, the relations of Mexico were focused primarily on the United
States, its northern neighbor, largest trading partner,[224] and the most powerful actor in
hemispheric and world affairs.[225] Mexico supported the Cuban government since its
establishment in the early 1960s,[226] the Sandinista revolution in Nicaragua during the late
1970s,[227] and leftist revolutionary groups in El Salvador during the 1980s.[228] Felipe Calderón's
administration (2006-2012) put a greater emphasis on relations with Latin America and the
Caribbean.[229] Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018) emphasized economic issues and foreign
investment, particularly the now-defunct Trans-Pacific Partnership.[230] Andrés Manuel López
Obrador has taken a cautious approach, unwilling to challenge U.S. President Donald
Trump on either trade or migration, while maintaining neutrality on Venezuela and welcoming
Chinese money.[231]

Military