Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has urged the U.S. government to take more decisive action to stop the arms trafficking that fuels violence in Mexico, citing that about 75% of weapons used by Mexican drug cartels originate from the United States. This appeal follows previous legal attempts by Mexico to hold U.S. gun manufacturers accountable for negligence in the sale of firearms, an effort that was dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court last year. The ongoing issue of arms smuggling has been a longstanding point of contention between the two nations.

Lopez Obrador's remarks were prompted by recent statements from former President Donald Trump, who, during a meeting with Latin American representatives, claimed that Mexican cartels propagate violence and chaos in the Western Hemisphere. Trump assured that the U.S. would take all necessary measures to protect its national interests, even threatening to use military force against the drug cartels in Mexico. This position has raised concerns in Mexico regarding national sovereignty and the implications of U.S. intervention in its domestic affairs.

During his address, Lopez Obrador also pointed out that the core problem of cartel violence is not confined to Mexico but stems primarily from the United States. He emphasized that the demand for drugs in the U.S. exacerbates the situation, enabling cartels to cause significant bloodshed and chaos throughout Latin America. This highlights the intricate and cross-border nature of the drug trafficking crisis and the shared responsibility of both nations to address the underlying issues effectively.