The governments of Mexico and the United States officially launched the Bilateral Implementation Group (BIG) on Friday, a new initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation on security issues and enhancing joint efforts against transnational crime.

In a statement, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson announced that he and Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco addressed officials from both countries who will lead what he described as a “new phase of bilateral cooperation.” The initiative seeks to curb the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs, illegal firearms, and human trafficking across the shared border.

Earlier this week, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that senior security officials from both nations would meet in Mexico City on June 12 to review and advance existing cooperation agreements.

Through social media, Ambassador Johnson explained that the new bilateral group is designed to improve coordination between the two governments by placing greater emphasis on implementation, accountability, and measurable results. The effort will also focus on combating transnational criminal organizations operating across North America.

“The participation of 15 U.S. government agencies, working alongside their Mexican counterparts, reflects the seriousness of this effort and our shared commitment to delivering measurable results,” Johnson said.

The ambassador also highlighted several achievements that he attributed to ongoing bilateral cooperation. According to Johnson, maritime drug trafficking into the United States has declined by more than 95 percent, while overdose deaths have fallen by 35 percent.

He further noted that Mexican authorities have seized more than 400 metric tons of illegal drugs and dismantled over 2,300 clandestine laboratories as part of their efforts to combat organized crime and narcotics production.

The launch of the Bilateral Implementation Group marks the latest step in the security partnership between Mexico and the United States, as both countries seek to address shared challenges related to drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and the activities of criminal networks operating across the region.

Convicted drug trafficker Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán has once again appealed to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to intervene on his behalf and seek his transfer from the United States to Mexico, where he hopes to serve the remainder of his prison sentence.

Guzmán, the former leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, is currently serving a sentence of more than 50 years in the United States after being convicted in 2019 on multiple charges, including drug trafficking and money laundering.

According to reports, the latest request was made in a letter dated June 2, one of several messages that Guzmán has reportedly sent to Sheinbaum in recent months in an effort to secure his repatriation. In the letter, he expresses hope that the Mexican government can support the efforts of his legal team.

Written in English and by hand, the letter asks that he be allowed to complete his sentence in Mexico, arguing that such a transfer would enable him to receive visits from family members more easily.

Guzmán is currently being held at the United States Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility in Florence, Colorado, commonly known as the “Alcatraz of the Rockies,” one of the most secure prisons in the United States.

As in previous communications, the former cartel leader complained about his prison conditions, stating that he remains in near-total isolation and has little to no contact with other inmates.

He also reiterated his long-standing claim that he did not receive a fair trial in the United States and argued that the Mexican government bears responsibility for much of the violence associated with organized crime in the country.

In the letter, Guzmán maintains that his actions were motivated by a desire to protect himself and his family amid the violence linked to criminal organizations in Mexico.

Mexican authorities have not publicly indicated whether they plan to respond to the request. Guzmán remains one of the most notorious figures in the history of international drug trafficking and is serving his sentence under some of the strictest security measures in the U.S. prison system.

The United States is making progress in restoring oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, with approximately 7 million barrels of oil and fuel now passing through the critical maritime route each day, according to U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Speaking at the Bloomberg Energy Security Executive Briefing in Houston on Friday, Wright said the United States is committed to fully reopening the waterway, regardless of whether Iran cooperates with those efforts.

The Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy transit corridors, experienced severe disruptions at the onset of the conflict with Iran. According to Wright, nearly 20 million barrels of oil per day were initially affected when traffic through the strait was largely halted.

While some shipments were redirected to alternative ports outside the Persian Gulf, roughly 14 million barrels per day remained stranded, creating what Wright described as a major disruption to global energy flows.

“That was a significant interruption of supply,” he said, emphasizing that the United States intends to restore normal shipping operations independently if necessary.

Industry analysts noted that the recovery of approximately 7 million barrels per day has exceeded many market expectations. Dan Pickering, chief investment officer at Pickering Energy Partners, said the faster-than-expected return of supply has helped explain why oil prices have remained lower than some analysts had predicted.

Wright also reiterated his goal of rebuilding the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which has been used in recent years to help cushion the impact of supply disruptions linked to geopolitical conflicts and market volatility.

In addition, the Energy Secretary dismissed the possibility of imposing restrictions on U.S. energy exports, arguing that maintaining open markets remains essential for both domestic energy security and global supply stability.

The comments underscore Washington’s determination to restore confidence in international energy markets and ensure the uninterrupted flow of oil through one of the world’s most strategically important shipping lanes.