US Designates Six Mexican Cartels, MS-13 as Terrorist Organizations

The U.S. government has officially designated six Mexican drug cartels, along with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs), a move announced by the Department of State. This designation, which follows an executive order by President Trump, labels these groups as threats to U.S. national security due to their involvement in drug trafficking, violence, and human trafficking. The designated cartels include the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), among others. The implications of this designation may extend to increased military and intelligence operations against these groups, raising concerns about potential U.S. interventions in Mexico. Mexican officials, including President Claudia Sheinbaum, have criticized the designation as interference in domestic affairs and suggested that the U.S. should address its own crime issues first. The move could further strain U.S.-Mexico relations as it marks a significant shift in how the U.S. perceives the threat from organized crime.