Description: US President Donald Trump’s executive order designating drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) has come into effect. The designation was published through the US Department of State and named six larger Mexican drug cartels as FTOs. This would enable US authorities to subject the cartels under sanctions and persecute organizations or individuals that harbor material support for the cartels. Recent tensions between the US and Mexico saw Donald Trump and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum trade blame over the fentanyl trade across the US – Mexico border.
Impact: The listing of cartels as FTOs has raised several concerns, mainly that it would enable larger implications of the US military and operational capabilities on Mexican territory. In a period of time where bilateral relations worsen over the imposed 25% tariffs which were later delayed, the executive order could further plunge bilateral relations between the two countries in further disarray. The CIA was discovered to have begun to flow drone mission to disrupt cartel activities, a move which Sheinbaum described as mutual cooperation. In light of the migrant crisis developing across the border, cartel violence and enlarged criminal activities would potentially reduce but with the US – Mexico bilateral relations deterioration, tensions would escalate under the condition inter – agency cooperation also crumbles.