translated from Spanish: AMLO and Trump talk about Culiacan; proposes to freeze arms trafficking

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador proposed to his US counterpart, Donald Trump, to “freeze” arms trafficking to this country, following last Thursday’s violent day in Culiacan, an approach that was backed by the representative of United States.
This was revealed by Mexican Chancellor Marcelo Ebrard, who reported that both representatives held a phone call in which Trump expressed his administration’s solidarity with the facts in the Sinaloan capital, as well as saying he will support the initiatives President López Obrador.
Ebrard stressed the importance of this will of the US government, as the armed groups that acted in Culiacan had .50-caliber weapons and according to an analysis by authorities of both nations, if they had not withdrawn from the actions of the Mexican federal forces, the death toll could have reached up to 200 people.
“It was a very positive call that accounts for a very good relationship,” said the chancellor, who stated that the communication was on President Trump’s proposal and was made around 09:00 on Saturday, lasting approximately 15 minutes.
The head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) reiterated the Willingness of the U.S. government to support the López Obrador’s initiative to freeze arms trafficking at the northern border through state-of-the-art, non-invasive technology such as metals, as well as Gamma and X rays.
“They’re interested in stopping the drug trade and us being arms trafficked,” he said.
Ebrard added that, during the call, Trump expressed his support to his Mexican counterpart for the good work he does and supported him in combating crime and insecurity.
He said that a high-level meeting between security officials from both nations will be held next week to discuss what is required in the fight against drug trafficking, arms trafficking, crime and information sharing.
The chancellor also mentioned that on Friday they met with security authorities from the two countries, including the DEA, and discussed the issue of the situation in Culiacán, in addition to expressing support for Mexico and discussing scenarios such as what would have happened if federal forces had not withdrawn.
“If the order had been given to continue, there would be talk that the dead, mostly civilians, would be above 200,” he said.
The chancellor indicated that the traditional doctrine of “collateral damage” was left behind, which is no longer in force, but reiterated that the deployment of the National Guard will nonetheless continue, while arrest warrants in Culiacan against several people continue Current.
 
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Original source in Spanish