The Mérida Initiative proposes to make a $1.4 billion multiyear U.S. contribution to support Mexican law enforcement and judicial reforms in their antidrug efforts.

The future of the Mérida Initiative to deepen bilateral security cooperation with Mexico and combat transnational organized crime.

Mexico today increasingly resembles Colombia 25 years ago, but President Obama has demonstrated insufficient leadership against illegal drugs and his administration seems to have no consensus on the severity of the problem.

Costa Rica’s leadership has been capitalizing on the opportunities created by the free trade agreement with the United States. For all the talk of China’s growing shadow in the Americas, with a typical country like Costa Rica, the United States is its No. 1 trade partner – by far, and for the foreseeable future.

Bipartisan oversight in the new Congress should develop a sensible policy toward Latin America that addresses Mexico's antidrug campaign, Hugo Chávez's hostile regime, free trade with Colombia, and relations with Brazil and Cuba.

Drug-related violence threatens both the United States and Mexico, and both countries must meet their responsibilities to confront the illegal drug trade.

By avoiding simple mistakes, investing political capital in trade, and getting serious about security challenges, Obama could be off to a promising start in the Western Hemisphere.

What Obama does to put the United States' own house in order will benefit our neighbors more than anything he can do right now for the region.