U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters in Mexico City Wednesday that he wants to explore ways to strengthen defense ties between the United States and Mexico. 

He said the U.S. may introduce training exercises with Mexican forces, The Associated Press reports. 

Hagel is currently in Mexico City for talks Thursday with his Mexican and Canadian counterparts. 

The military relationship between the U.S. and Mexico has been troubled since the 1800s when Mexico lost territory to the U.S. Currently, ties have been strained due to drug trafficking across the U.S./Mexico border. 

Hagel said Thursday's talks will also focus on the region's security threats, such as violent extremist groups, as well as possible cooperative ventures like humanitarian assistance and disaster relief planning. 

Hagel is also scheduled to visit Guatemala Friday. 

The trip marks Hagel's first trip to Latin America since he took office in February 2013. He said there is definitive improvements that can be made in how the U.S. interacts with its neighbor to the south. 

"Over the years we've probably never done enough to reach out to our Latin American partners," he said, which is in part due to a lack of urgent crises. 

"The places that get most of the attention around the world are the trouble spots," he said.

Hagel is only the third secretary of defense to visit Mexico; William Perry was the first to visit in 1995, followed by Robert Gates in 2010. 

U.S. officials claim defense ties are improving by evidence of Mexico's interest in purchasing American military hardware. Last week, Congress was notified by the Obama administration that there is a proposed $680 million sale to Mexico of 18 American Black Hawk helicopters. 

Previously, Mexico had been purchasing helicopters from Russia.