How much aid has the United States given to the Mexican military through the Merida Initiative?
The US government has directed $420.8 million of the Merida Initiative funds to the Mexican military: $116.5 million in the 2008 supplemental budget; $39 million in 2009 budget; $260 million in 2009 supplemental budget; and $5.3 million in 2010 budget. A December 2009 report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that only 2 percent of the $1.3 billion appropriated for the Merida Initiative, or $26 million, had actually been spent by Mexico. This means that the overwhelming majority of US aid to Mexico’s armed forces has not yet been spent, and that the collaboration between the US and Mexican militaries will continue for years to come as these funds are put to use.
