U.S. President Barack Obama was briefed Saturday by Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Admiral Mike Mullen about Mexico's drug wars and how the the United States might help.
Mullen was in Mexico Friday for meetings with government officials.
U.S. military officials say Mr. Obama is interested in exploring military capabilities that the U.S. has that could help Mexican forces.
The U.S. has expressed concern about the growing violence in Mexico spilling across the border.
U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said Washington may help train Mexican forces and provide intelligence and other resources in the drug fight.
More than 1,000 people have been killed in Mexico in drug-related violence this year.
Mexico's drug cartels are locked in a violent fight for control of trafficking routes into the United States.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has deployed thousands of soldiers to fight drug gangs across the country since taking office in 2006. Despite the effort, more than 6,000 people were killed last year in drug violence.