There is no reason Mexico can't solve it's own cartel problem if other employment and government revenue opportunities exist. The people there aren't less able, the culture seems to value hard work more than that of their northern neighbor. I've been in migrant agricultural worker housing and promise you those people could have lived an easier lifestyle in the drug trade.
Foreign investment in one area at a time can change that by providing employment alternatives and compelling the government to police that area to protect the industry. The more that happens, the more the government is able to expand the safe area to draw more investment. The cure to the drug war, border security, and illegal immigration has always been improving things on the southern bank of the Rio Grande.
I disagree. The cartels reach the presidency office. Mexico being able to control the cartel within its borders is like saying Afghanistan is strong enough to fight the taliban inside it’s borders. It can’t.
The cartel pays more than the Mexico military and pays more than the local police.