Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Thursday that she will propose a constitutional reform to strengthen national sovereignty after the U.S. designated several Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organisations.
“The Mexican people will under no circumstances accept interventions, intrusions, or any other action from abroad that are detrimental to the integrity, independence, or sovereignty of the nation… (including) violations of Mexican territory, whether by land, sea, or air,” Sheinbaum said during her regular morning news conference.
US Military Action Feared
The United States on Wednesday designated the Sinaloa Cartel and other drug cartels in Mexico as global terrorist organisations, a move that comes as concerns mount among some Mexican officials that U.S. President Donald Trump may be setting the stage to take unilateral military action inside Mexico, an idea floated repeatedly during his presidential campaign.
Sheinbaum said Mexico was not consulted by the United States about the decision to designate the groups as terrorist organisations.
Mexico Opposes Designation
Mexico has long opposed the move, arguing the cartels are not motivated by political ends like others on the terror list, but by profit.
The designation risks complicating international business in Mexico, including the operations of U.S. companies. It could also shift the legal landscape for U.S. asylum claims, potentially hurting migrants who are forced to pay extortion or ransoms to cartels, as they could be accused of supporting a terrorist organization.
Sheinbaum said on Thursday she would also propose a second constitutional reform that would stiffen the penalties for Mexicans and foreigners who engage in arms trafficking, which is a top diplomatic issue for Mexico, as most guns used in crimes in the country are trafficked from the United States.
Trump’s Move Against Cartels
President Donald Trump, a Republican, issued an executive order after taking office on January 20 that called on officials to evaluate whether any criminal cartels or
transnational gangs should be designated as terror groups.
During Trump’s 2017-2021 presidency, he considered such designations but ultimately shelved the plans.
(With inputs from Reuters)
