The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, expressed her concern about the possible designation of five Mexican drug cartels as terrorist groups and pointed out that American gun manufacturers and dealers could be considered "accomplices" of terrorism. According to reports, 74% of the weapons used by criminal groups in Mexico come from the United States.
Sheinbaum emphasized that Mexico would expand the lawsuit filed against the U.S. arms industry if the designation mentioned by The New York Times materializes. The cartels that could be affected by this measure are the Sinaloa Cartel, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the Northeast Cartel, La Familia Michoacana, and Unidos.
The president stressed that Mexico will defend its sovereignty and reject any external interference. She also emphasized that the declaration of the Mexican cartels as terrorist groups would not contribute to combating organized crime in the country, given that the majority of the weapons used by these groups come from the United States.
Referring to Trump's criticisms and his administration regarding the alleged influence of the cartels on the Mexican government, Sheinbaum underscored that this stance is counterproductive. The president indicated that if the designation decree is issued, it will be assessed how it would affect American gun manufacturers and distributors.
