On his way to the Summit of the Americas, President Barack Obama makes his first Latin American visit when he travels to Mexico this week. Security will likely be the main focus as he meets with counterpart Felipe Calderón, even as Mexico experiences a drop in violence connected to organized crime.

Security rose to the top of the agenda during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Mexico, where she acknowledged the role of American guns and drug consumption in Mexico’s struggle against organized crime.

The Obama administration unveiled a multiagency plan to ramp up security along the U.S.-Mexican border. The initiative, which involves bilateral coordination, comes on the eve of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's visit to Mexico.

On the eve of Secretary Hillary Clinton's trip to Mexico, an AS/COA panel examined bilateral approaches to solve security issues and overcome financial concerns. Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. Arturo Sarukhán and former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Jim Jones participated.

"The United States must recognize the truism that our nation’s own security and economic strength is intrinsically tied to a stable and prosperous Mexico," writes the former ambassador to Mexico. Fully funding the Merida Initiative is a critical priority.

As violence related to organized crime takes its toll in Mexico, the debate deepens over hemispheric drug policy. Proposals on the table range from stepped-up security cooperation to drug decriminalization. Meanwhile, Washington announced widespread arrests of suspects linked to Mexican cartels.

From the impact of the global financial downturn to an upswing in violent crime, Mexico feels the pain. But with strong economic fundamentals in place, its economy is more resistant to contagion than in the past.