Mexico, U.S. eye cooperation in meetings sparked by cartel threat

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador speaks during the anniversary of his first year in office at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City, Mexico, December 1, 2019. REUTERS/Edgard Garrido

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico's government said its meetings with U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Thursday will focus on bilateral cooperation, as they seek to address the threat of Mexican drug cartels, which the Trump administration wants to label terrorist groups.

Barr's meetings in Mexico were arranged after U.S. President Donald Trump said last week he would designate the drug gangs as terrorist organizations in response to a series of bloody security breaches triggered by cartel gunmen.