The government of President Claudia Sheinbaum is developing a proposal directed at Washington with the aim of establishing a security agreement with the United States. The purpose of this initiative is to reduce violence in Mexico, stop the trafficking of arms, and prevent drugs from reaching American territory.
In a conference last Friday, Sheinbaum reported that she has asked a group of lawyers to examine the possible economic implications for Mexico of the executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which seeks to designate drug cartels as international terrorist organizations. The president emphasized that the unilateral decisions of the Trump administration do not contribute to combatting the cartels, stressing the importance of collaboration and coordination between both countries.
According to an analysis conducted by FTI Consulting, the classification of Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations would have repercussions not only politically and in terms of national security, but would also affect companies associated with Mexico. Any type of logistical or financial support to the cartels could be interpreted as backing for terrorist groups, leading to asset freezes, criminal charges, and heavy fines.
The designation of the cartels as terrorists would also imply the imposition of severe criminal penalties on companies that engage in operations with organizations affiliated with foreign terrorist groups. Even paying ransoms, extortions, or protection fees could be grounds for sanctions, except in cases of acting under coercion, according to FTI Consulting.
Given this scenario, President Sheinbaum indicated that the ongoing legal analysis is focused on the possible implications for various organizations that, although they have no ties to criminal groups, could face economic problems arising from Trump's decision. The president reported that a team of lawyers is evaluating these implications for different sectors in order to understand the possible consequences of designating the cartels as terrorist organizations.
