Mexico Military Spending: Peņa Nieto Spent $1 Billion On US Military Equipment To Fight Drug Cartels
Mexico Military Spending: Peña Nieto Spent $1 Billion On US Military Equipment To Fight Drug Cartels
By Tim Marcin @TimMarcin t.marcin@ibtimes.com on June 16 2015 2:57 PM EDT
Mexico has been buying American military equipment at breakneck speed to aid its ongoing fight with drug cartels. Over the past two years, the United States has sold more than $1 billion in military supplies to the country, reported the Washington Post.
A once-cold relationship between the U.S. and Mexico has taken on a different tone when it comes to military sales. The increased sales represent a change in that security relationship, sources familiar with the partnership told the Post. Mexico's recent purchases represent a “hundredfold increase from prior years,” said Admiral E. Gortney, commander at U.S. Northern Command -- the military headquarters that deals with Mexico -- in testimony before Congress.
Mexico's haul reportedly included 30 million bullets, numerous Black Hawk helicopters and thousands of Humvees. The buying-spree indicates that Mexico is pushing to modernize its military in its fight against drug cartels.
In the past, Mexico has not been a big U.S. military buyer, instead relying on European and private sellers. Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto also emphasized that he felt the U.S. was too involved in the drug war when he took office two years ago, according to the Post.
More:
http://www.ibtimes.com/mexico-military-spending-pena-nieto-spent-1-billion-us-military-equipment-fight-drug-1969802
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