Assessing the Designation of Mexican Cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)

On February 20, 2025, the US government officially designated six Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs), marking a significant shift in US national security policy aimed at addressing Mexican organized crime. On the same day, Canada, following the US lead, also designated these cartels as FTOs, signaling a coordinated and unified approach to tackling these criminal organizations across North America.

The cartels included in this designation are:

• Sinaloa Cartel
• Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel
• Cartel del Noreste (CDN)
• La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM)
• Cartel del Golfo (CDG)
• Carteles Unidos (CU)

These designations could have significant consequences, potentially affecting the operations of these groups and influencing the broader security landscape. The disruption of financial networks may prompt these cartels to adapt, possibly through new strategies, which could present challenges for law enforcement and international cooperation. This webinar will explore these actions' security, economic, and diplomatic implications, including their potential effects on US-Mexico-Canada relations, the evolving dynamics of transnational crime, and regional stability. We will also consider the potential for increased violence and the impact on US-Mexico security cooperation.