Joshua Kurlantzick and Shelby Leighton ask, "Why bother with a coup when there are better ways to take control?"

John Bellinger argues that complying with the Vienna convention, "protects Americans abroad and confirms this country's commitment to international law."

Julia E. Sweig explains that U.S, relations with Latin America will be drastically different. She argues that the Obama administration "must endeavor to see the hemisphere as it is and not through the lazy filters of "best-friendism," wishful thinking or demonization."

Edward Alden writes that the quest for perfectly secure borders premised on plugging vulnerabilities poses special, and possibly insurmountable, problems. The United States needs some way to distinguish serious threats from minor ones, and to calculate the costs of trying to counter those threats.

Shannon K. O'Neil discusses America's influential role in the war on drugs.

In this Newsweek article, David Victor writes that a large fraction of the world's oil patch is struggling with the same problem that bedevils Mexican President Felipe Calderon: how to make state-owned oil companies—which control about three quarters of the world's oil reserve—more effective at finding and producing oil. With oil output increasing only sluggishly, and demand still strong, oil prices are set to stay high for some time.

The authors examine the lack of understanding of the effectiveness of enforcement efforts in preventing illegal immigration to the United States.

Joe Contreras, former Latin America bureau chief for Newsweek, says while Mexico and the United States step up engagement on battling drug traffickers, another priority--immigration reform--is unlikely to get top U.S. attention.

Elizabeth Kempshall, head of the Drug Enforcement Administration in Arizona, discusses her office's cooperation with Mexican law enforcement to fight drug trafficking.

Jorge G. Castaneda, former foreign minister of Mexico and professor of Latin American Studies at New York University, talks about the Latin American leftist wave and the future of Mexico under Felipe Calderon.

Enrique Ochoa Reza, a Mexican politician and law professor, talks to CFR.org's Esther Pan about the closest Mexican presidential race in history.

President Barack Obama expanded the Merida Initiative beyond its original military scope but, CFR Senior Fellow Shannon O'Neil notes, implementation will require concerted efforts in both bilateral diplomacy and domestic policy.

President Obama gave a speech at the Anthropology Museum in Mexico City on May 3, 2013. He discussed the five points he and President Nieto covered during their bilateral talks.

President Barack Obama and Mexican President Pena Nieto held this press conference in Mexico City after their meeting on May 2, 2013. They discussed immigration, security, and economic initiatives.

Secretary of State John Kerry and Mexican Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio Meade gave these remarks and answered questions after their meeting on April 19, 2013.

President Obama and President-elect Peña Nieto of Mexico gave these remarks at the White House on November 28, 2012.

President Obama and Mexican president Calderón gave these joint remarks after their meeting at the G20 summit in Los Cabos, Mexico on June 18, 2012.