MEXICO’S PRESIDENTELECT SAYS HE’LL STOP U.S. HELICOPTER DEAL

Mexico City — President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday he will cancel the pending purchase by Mexico’s navy of eight armed Lockheed Martin MH-60R helicopters from the U.S. government. Lopez Obrador mentioned nixing the planned $1.2 billion deal as an example of extensive cost-cutting measures his government will undertake. “That purchase is going to be canceled because we can’t make that expense,” he said during a wide-ranging news conference. In April, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of the helicopters, saying it would improve the security of a strategic regional partner. In its statement then, it said the helicopters would help Mexico fight criminal organizations.