Leaders of Colombia , Mexico , Venezuela , Panama to meet Friday in Panama . They will discuss ways of countering growing violence and drug - trafficking . Drug - related violence reached record levels in Mexico last year , with 5,400 slayings . `` I think Obama is going to understand that Mexico is very important to the United States , '' Shifter told CNN last week . Instability caused by violence in Mexico could threaten U.S. which shares a border .
Leaders of Colombia , Mexico , Venezuela , Panama to meet Friday in Panama . They will discuss ways of countering growing violence and drug - trafficking . Drug - related violence reached record levels in Mexico last year , with 5,400 slayings . Instability caused by violence in Mexico could threaten U.S. which shares a border .