Cartels Designated As Foreign Terror Organizations Could Face US Military Action

President Donald Trump recently designated sundry drug cartels operating in Mexico as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).

Designating the cartels as FTOs was one of President Trump’s campaign promises, and it was something conservatives had long urged former President Joe Biden to do to no avail. 

The cartels designated are Tren de Aragua, Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), Cártel de Sinaloa, Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, Cártel del Noreste (formerly Los Zetas), La Nueva Familia Michoacana, Cártel de Golfo (Gulf Cartel), and Cárteles Unidos.

The FTO designation expands financial sanctions against the cartels and authorizes the use of military force against them.

Elon Musk took to social media to speak about the designation, alleging it could result in “drone strikes” against the cartels. 

The use of military force against cartels operating in Mexico is unlikely, however, as Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has opposed the idea and criticized it as a violation of Mexico’s sovereignty.

"The Mexican people will not accept under any circumstances interventions, interference or any other act from abroad that could be harmful to the integrity, independence and sovereignty of the nation," said President Sheinbaum.

Sheinbaum also claimed she would study the possibility of erecting constitutional reforms to further protect Mexico’s sovereignty. 

State Department Secretary Marco Rubio explained the FTO designation is intended to “protect our nation, the American people, and our hemisphere.”  

“That means stopping the campaigns of violence and terror by these vicious groups both in the United States and internationally,” said Secretary Rubio. “These designations provide law enforcement additional tools to stop these groups.”

Tren de Aragua, MS-13, and the Sinaloa cartels are perhaps the most infamous groups, especially given their increased activity in the US during President Biden’s administration. 

Biden took certain actions against the cartels, such as designating Tren de Aragua as a transnational criminal organization (TCO).

Tren de Aragua is Venezuela’s largest gang with an estimated 5,000 members and has recently been linked to numerous criminal investigations in the US and Mexico.