Secretary of State Marco Rubio has designated eight Mexican drug cartels as “foreign terrorist organizations.” The organizations are:
- Tren de Aragua (also known as Aragua Train);
- Mara Salvatrucha (also known as MS-13); Cartel de Sinaloa (also known as Sinaloa Cartel, Mexican Federation, Guadalajara Cartel);
- Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (also known as New Generation Cartel of Jalisco, CJNG, Jalisco New Generation Cartel);
- Carteles Unidos (also known as United Cartels, Tepalcatepec Cartel, Cartel de Tepalcatepec, The Grandfather Cartel, Cartel del Abuelo, Cartel de Los Reyes);
- Cartel del Noreste (also known as CDN, Northeast Cartel, Los Zetas);
- Cartel del Golfo (also known as CDG, Gulf Cartel, Osiel Cardenas-Guillen Organization); and
- La Nueva Familia Michoacana (also known as LNF
This map gives an idea of where they are dominant.
According to US Northern Command, about one-third of Mexico is under direct cartel control, and cartel presence is pervasive throughout the country.
Designating these groups as FTOs will not, I say again, will not automatically open the door to US military involvement. It would take a “finding” by President Trump to undertake military action against the cartels. Hopefully, that could be done with the assistance of the Mexican Armed Forces, keeping in mind that Los Zetas, aka Cartel del Noreste, was founded by Mexican SOF troops trained by the US Army. Strikes into Mexico without Mexican approval could be very touch-and-go.
While not expressly allowing military action, any person, business, or organization working with the groups would, in the words of the immortal Walter Sobchak, “enter a world of pain.” See Foreign Terrorist Organizations – United States Department of State.