The designation of Latin American cartels as terrorist organizations is set to be a contentious issue at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly, with the United States leading the charge. According to sources, 14 countries are expected to follow suit, with the aim of bolstering international cooperation against these organized crime groups. The move is seen as a response to the escalating violence and instability in the region, particularly in Mexico, where cartels have been linked to thousands of murders and kidnappings.
US Ambassador to the U.N. Kelly Craft has been a vocal advocate for the designation, citing the cartels' use of violence and intimidation to further their interests. "These groups are a menace to global security and stability," Craft stated in a recent interview. "Designating them as terrorist organizations is a necessary step towards disrupting their operations and bringing their leaders to justice." The designation is expected to be met with resistance from some Latin American countries, which may argue that the move is an overreach of U.N. authority.
Meanwhile, Mexico's government has been working closely with the U.S. to develop a strategy to combat the cartels. Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has pledged to take a tough stance against the cartels, and has announced plans to deploy additional troops to the border region. The designation of the cartels as terrorist organizations is seen as a key component of this strategy, and is expected to receive strong support from the U.S. and other countries.
The designation of Latin American cartels as terrorist organizations has significant implications for companies and research communities operating in the region. For example, companies that do business with the cartels risk being blacklisted by the U.S. and other countries, potentially damaging their reputation and bottom line. Research communities may also be affected, as the designation could lead to increased scrutiny of academic and think tank research that is deemed to be too sympathetic to the cartels.
In particular, companies such as General Motors, which has a significant presence in Mexico, may be impacted by the designation. GM has already faced criticism for its ties to the cartels, and the designation could further exacerbate tensions. On the other hand, companies that have been critical of the cartels, such as human rights groups, may see the designation as a victory.
The designation of Latin American cartels as terrorist organizations is part of a broader trend towards increased cooperation between the U.S. and other countries to combat organized crime. This trend is seen in the context of the "War on Drugs," which has been a major focus of U.S. foreign policy in Latin America for decades. However, the approach has been widely criticized for its failure to address the root causes of organized crime, and for its human rights abuses.
Why it matters: this intelligence reflects a shift that researchers and analysts should follow closely.
Billy Odell Tucker-Robinson is the founder and host of Banking With Billy, an independent financial intelligence platform covering markets, stocks, AI, crypto, and world news. Billy operates a 24/7 live AI radio and Stock TV platform, hosts a growing Discord community, and produces daily content on YouTube @BankingWithBilly.
The Intelligence Network platform ingests the complete universe of structured global data across 32 intelligence categories — from scientific databases and government sources to AI ecosystems and global infrastructure. All articles are AI-generated under Billy's editorial direction using E-E-A-T journalism standards.
Contact: billyotucker@gmail.com • 309-332-1191