Hilllary Clinton, the US secretary of state, has pledged to help Mexico broaden its war on drug gangs, saying the cartels were not just at war with the Mexican government but with the US as well.
The focus now, US officials say, is that some of the $1.6bn aid package, known as the Merida Initiative to fight the drug war, will be redirected to target the roots causes that generate the violence.
Some of the money will be used to reinforce social programs and government institutions that combat the drug cartels.
Al Jazeera's Mariana Sanchez reports from Mexico City.
