The government of President Donald Trump intends to act against Mexican cartels, regardless of Mexico's support, according to Sergio Aguayo, a researcher at El Colegio de México (Colmex). In this regard, Raúl Benítez Manaut, a researcher at the Center for North American Studies at UNAM, pointed out that designating the cartels as terrorist groups follows a line of policies already applied in the past.
In an interview on the program EntreDichos of El Financiero Bloomberg, Aguayo highlighted the collaboration on security issues between both countries since 1927. Although no change in this dynamic is expected, Aguayo indicated that the United States seems to have decided to combat drug trafficking, even without Mexico's express support. "Like it or not, the United States has already decided that it will act with or without the government of Mexico," he stated.
Regarding the perception in Mexico about the intervention of the United States in these matters, Aguayo mentioned that it is not viewed negatively, citing surveys from El Financiero showing support for the United States to back Mexico. For his part, Benítez Manaut emphasized that collaboration in this area should not affect Mexican sovereignty, especially when the government faces difficulties in neutralizing internal threats that undermine the sovereignty and economy of the country.
The researcher also referred to the designation of cartels as terrorist groups, comparing it to the situation of criminal groups in Colombia during the presidency of Álvaro Uribe and Plan Colombia. Benítez Manaut pointed out that this strategy is consistent with previous agreements and measures adopted by the United States in similar contexts, such as the capture of Mayo Zambada, in which the Mexican government seemed not to have participated actively.
