Defense ministers and representatives of the United States, Mexico and Canada pledged here Tuesday to boost military cooperation to combat drug-trafficking and natural disasters.

After a two-day trilateral meeting, the first of its kind, the participants vowed in a joint statement to enhance cooperation to support efforts in fighting transnational criminal organizations and responding to natural disasters in the West hemisphere.

"Our meeting today has established the framework necessary to build North America's resilience by pursuing a practical agenda built on sustained trilateral cooperation on issues related to defense," the statement said.

The military leaders of the three countries agreed to meet regularly in the future, and to submit a report to their heads of state or government before a North American summit takes place on April 2.

They promised to develop better threat intelligence and work with civilian agencies to combat illicit activities, such as narcotics trafficking, which floods North American cities and causes killings in Mexico.

The three countries will also step up the speed and efficiency of military support to civilian-led disaster relief efforts.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta said drug-trafficking and Latin American cartels have been the most serious threats to the hemisphere.

The United Nations estimates that the volume of drug-trafficking in the United States, Canada and Mexico exceeds 147 billion U.S. dollars a year.

"Canada, the United States and Mexico share common challenges and concerns when it comes to the defense and security of North America," Canadian Defense Minister Peter MacKay said after the meeting.

"This inaugural trilateral defense meeting formalized and strengthened the necessary cooperation between our three countries, and allows us to move forward to ensure the defense and security of our citizens and continent," MacKay added.