US designates eight drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations

In early February 2025, the United States government formally designated eight Latin American organized crime groups, including the Sinaloa cartel and Tren de Aragua, as foreign terrorist organizations based on their violent operations and drug trafficking activities. This designation follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, aimed at addressing the escalating threats posed by these groups to U.S. national security and public safety. The move allows for potential financial sanctions against these organizations and their associates, reflecting the urgent need to combat the ongoing drug crisis in the U.S. driven predominantly by fentanyl and other synthetic drugs produced by these cartels. Critics of the designation argue that employing the terrorist label, typically reserved for groups like al-Qaida, might strain diplomatic relations and negatively impact economic interactions between the U.S. and Latin American countries. They contend that the broad nature of these designations could lead to severe repercussions for legitimate businesses that inadvertently engage with or support activities tied to these cartels through trade or transactions. Furthermore, Mexican officials have expressed strong opposition to U.S. intervention and military action on their soil, asserting that cooperation and collaboration, rather than military involvement, should be the guiding principles. They also aim to address the issue of gun smuggling from the U.S. into Mexico, which significantly empowers these criminal organizations. As the situation develops, it is crucial for both countries to find common ground to jointly combat the crime epidemic without infringing on sovereignty or escalating tensions.