U.S. Targets Latin American Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations

A recent presidential directive has instructed the Pentagon to prepare for potential military operations against select Latin American gangs and drug cartels designated as terrorist organizations. This announcement has intensified scrutiny on these groups and raised important questions about legal frameworks, the scope of U.S. military involvement abroad, and the identities of the targeted organizations.

Details regarding the Pentagon’s strategic plans and the geographic focus of any future operations remain unclear. Notably, Mexico’s president firmly rejected the possibility of U.S. military intervention on Mexican soil, declaring it "completely off the table."

The directive follows the State Department's designation earlier this year of multiple gangs and drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, paving the way for increased military and legal actions against them.

Outlined below is an overview of some of the major criminal groups affected by this designation:

The Sinaloa Cartel, established over three decades ago by Joaquin Guzmán Loera, known as El Chapo, and Ismael Zambada García, or El Mayo, stands as one of the most powerful criminal enterprises worldwide.

Operating as a network that spans multiple criminal cells from Sinaloa state and across Mexico, with connections extending internationally, the cartel has become a primary producer of fentanyl, an opioid that has wrought significant harm across the United States.