Ahead of a planned helicopter package delivery, Mexico's spiraling drug-related violence has prompted U. S. defense officials to consider added measures to address growing security concerns.

Leading members of U. S. President Barack Obama's Cabinet, including U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, and other senior security advisers, such as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of States U. S. Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, were drawn to high-level talks in Mexico this week.

Christopher Sabatini, senior director of policy at the Americas Society/Council of the Americas told The Christian Science Monitor, "You don't bring out the big guns like Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen for a delegation like this unless the overriding focus is going to be security, the drug violence and the perception of the impact these have on U. S. national security."

Initiatives would be taken to expand cooperation with America's troubled southern neighbor under the $1.3 billion Merida Initiative, Gates said during his talks.

Pentagon spokesman U. S. Army Lt. Col. Les Melnyk was quoted saying in a Defense News report that under the bilateral Merida Initiative, more than $415 million in funds have been appropriated in line with the Foreign Military Financing accounts in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 to purchase "up to eight Bell 412 helicopters, up to five Sikorsky UH-60M helicopters, and also purchase of up to four CASA 235 aircraft, which are fixed-wing naval surveillance and transport aircraft."

Since that order was placed, however, less than a handful of the platforms have been delivered.

It was recently alleged by U. S. congressmen that the U. S. Army's Aviation and Missile Command council have purposely delayed getting the helicopters to Mexico but there was no explanation.

Gates hinted at increased helicopter demands springing from heightened requirements in Afghanistan, while in Mexico. (With Inputs from Agencies)