Washington  - US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will travel to Mexico March 25 and 26 amid increasing drug-related violence along the US border.

The State Department said Friday Clinton will meet with Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa for talks on a host of issues that focus on cooperation between the two countries in fighting narcotics.

Mexican President Felipe Calderon's crackdown on drug cartels has resulted in a jump in violence near the US border among trafficking gangs and retributions against police.

The violence has prompted Washington to warn Americans of the dangers travelling to the region, and heightened calls for the deployment of the US National Guard near to border.

"The violence in certain areas along the borders is of concern," State Department deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said, praising Calderon for going after the cartels.

"These cartels wanted to have things their own way, and the president refused to accept that and has taken them on, and they have responded with violence," Duguid said. (dpa)