WASHINGTON, March 13 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton plans to travel to Mexico for her third trip beyond U.S. borders, the State Department said Friday.
Bilateral and international issues, including cooperation under the Merida Initiative -- an agreement among the United States, Mexico and other Central American countries to combat drug trafficking, transnational crime and money laundering -- will be discussed during the March 26-28 trip, department spokesman Gordon Duguid said during a media briefing.
Asked about the rising level of drug violence and kidnappings in Mexico, Duguid said the violence was localized and in response to the government's "strong action against drug cartels."
"So while we are concerned about the violence in these localized areas, we congratulate the Mexican government for taking on the problem," he said.
Clinton's first trip was to Asia, followed by a visit to the Middle East.
