Apr 17, 2023

Biden Fails On Diplomacy With Mexico On The Fentanyl Crisis

The Biden Administration has ramped up its efforts to solve the fentanyl crisis, though it's unclear if they are serious.
Biden Fails On Diplomacy With Mexico On The Fentanyl Crisis
Photo by Max Böhme / Unsplash

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The import of Chinese fentanyl through the cartels at the southern border has led to hundreds of thousands of American deaths. The crisis has been exacerbated by Biden's border crisis and nearly nonexistent collaboration with Mexico to solve the problem.

Though U.S. intelligence has eyes on the source of the fentanyl, Mexico is unwilling to act. Mexican officials have also denied responsibility and rejected the possibility that fentanyl is being produced in Mexico, directly contradicting DEA intelligence. Mexico's President recently stated that “fentanyl is America's problem.”

This past week, the Biden Administration has ramped up its efforts to solve the crisis. They announced criminal charges against a Mexican drug cartel involved with smuggling fentanyl into the U.S. and announced sanctions on Chinese suppliers. These efforts are a far cry from Republican calls to send U.S. troops to Mexico to fight the cartels.

They also announced increased cooperation with Mexico, though there are signs they aren't serious about it—Mexico sent its “entire national security cabinet” to the meeting, while the Biden administration sent just one U.S. representative. Other administration officials skipped the meeting — President Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

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