WASHINGTON – On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed a series of executive orders, including one declaring drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
“The Cartels’ activities threaten the safety of the American people, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere,” the order reads.
While the directive did not name specific Mexican cartels, it tasked Cabinet secretaries with recommending groups for designation within 14 days.
In response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to protect Mexico’s sovereignty while emphasizing the importance of collaboration with the U.S.
“We all want to fight the drug cartels,” Sheinbaum said during her daily press briefing, as reported by the Associated Press. The U.S. “in their territory, us in our territory.”
Experts have expressed skepticism about the practical impact of the designation, noting that it offers the U.S. limited new tools to combat organized crime.
“It’s already been done. This is nothing new,” Mike Vigil, a former head of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s foreign operations, told the Associated Press. “It’s all political theater and tossing a piece of stale salami to (Trump’s) base.”
However, some suggest the move is a political strategy to pressure Mexico into taking stronger action against the cartels. Others feel it could impact trade and pave the way for U.S. military intervention in Mexico.
