As It Takes on Traffickers, Mexico Arms Itself to the Teeth to Fight the Drug War Elena Toledo - PanAm Post
go to original March 3, 2016

The United States has been the country that has made the largest percentage of armament deliveries to Mexico. (Taringa)

The Mexican government has increased its weaponry in order to wage its war against drug trafficking, a Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) study concludes.

The report states that, in the last five years, Mexico has quadrupled its imports of heavy weapons compared to the period between 2006 and 2010. According to estimates, 100,000 people have been killed in the last 10 years in Mexico’s drug war.

“The significant increase is mainly linked to the Mexican government’s war against drug cartels,” the report reads.

Mexico has increased its arsenal in terms of air transport, maritime control patrols, combat frigates, fighter planes, assault helicopters, and armored vehicles.

Since 2011, Spain has sent four CASA-235 turboprop aircraft for tactical transport and naval patrol, while France has transferred 17 725 Super Cougar Eurocopter helicopters, and 10 Panter AS56 troop deployment helicopters.

Italy, Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, and Russia have have also supplied weapons for Mexico.

In total, the United States is the largest supplier of weapons to Mexico with 52 percent of military deliveries to that country between 2011 and 2015, mainly for military assistance. Spain comes in second, having sold Mexico 19 percent of all delivered weapons, while France is in third place with 10 percent.

See the original at PanAm Post | Español

Elena Toledo: Educator by trade, social-media apprentice, activist for a democratic Honduras, and free thinker. Follow her on Twitter @NenaToledo.

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