Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is seeking the Republican nomination for US president, says he would consider sending US troops into Mexico to combat drug-related violence.
The BBC reports that Mr Perry was speaking during a campaign appearance in New Hampshire.
He acknowledged such a move would go far beyond the current American involvement in Mexico's drugs war.
Mr Perry wants the leaders of the two countries to meet after next year's vote to work out a plan to deal with the drug trade south of the US border.
He gave no further details of what sort of possible military intervention he would consider.
"I don't know all the different scenarios that would be out there," he said.
"But I think it is very important for us to work with them to keep that country from failing".
After the speech, the White House said it would continue its "historic level of cooperation with Mexico" to protect people on both sides of the border.
The Obama administration currently provides substantial material support to Mexican security forces, as well as close intelligence cooperation.
