The US-Mexico cooperation in anti-drug trafficking during the administration of George W. Bush (2000-2008)

This thesis examines the evolution, content, and results of US-Mexico cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking during the George W. Bush administration (2001-2009). The thesis analyzes the historical context of bilateral relations, burdened by mistrust and asymmetry, and the subsequent transformation of US policy. Particular attention is paid to the development and launch of the Merida Initiative as a key, but predominantly forceful, instrument of cooperation, as well as to the assessment of its practical implementation and initial consequences. The main conclusions show that, despite its unprecedented scale, this strategy failed to achieve its stated goals of stabilizing the situation. On the contrary, its implementation coincided with a catastrophic increase in violence and a humanitarian crisis, as it did not address fundamental problems such as drug demand and the flow of weapons from the US. The work contributes to the understanding of asymmetric security cooperation and demonstrates the limits of the effectiveness of militarized approaches to solving complex transnational problem.