Trump list of US-designated ‘foreign terrorist organizations’ in Latin America grows to 21
The move expands a U.S. crackdown on drug and gang networks, with Mexico’s cartels and other groups now facing terrorism sanctions.
- On Wednesday, the Trump administration designated 21 Latin American and Caribbean criminal groups as "foreign terrorist organizations," with an Ecuadorian group added to the list to increase pressure on these entities and their associates.
- U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the designations during a diplomatic tour of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, where he is focused on implementing a strategy to combat drug trafficking across Latin America.
- Mexico leads the list with eight designated groups, including the Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The label, historically reserved for political groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State, now targets money-focused criminal rings.
- Colombia's Clan del Golfo, with an estimated 9,000 fighters, faces increased scrutiny under the new classification and controls at least 85% of the capital, forcing nonprofits to negotiate with gangs to deliver critical supplies.
- This strategy, which rolled out in February 2025, previously served as a pretext for the capture of Venezuelan Nicolás Maduro. Authorities continue using these designations to target groups alleged to be involved in "narcoterrorist" activities.
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Trump list of US-designated 'foreign terrorist organizations'
FILE - A soldier stands guard by a charred vehicle after it was set on fire in Cointzio, Michoacán state, Mexico, Feb. 22, 2026, following the death of the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, Nemesio Oseguera, also known as "El Mencho." (AP Photo/Armando Solis, File)
Associated Press News
Trump list of US-designated 'foreign terrorist organizations' in Latin America grows to 21
The Trump administration has designated 21 Latin American and Caribbean criminal groups as “foreign terrorist organizations,” with the latest an Ecuadorian group added to the list on Wednesday.
The Donald Trump administration has designated 21 criminal groups in Latin America and the Caribbean as “foreign terrorist organizations” since it came to power, last week coinciding with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s tour of allied countries in the region—Colombia, Ecuador and Peru—to consolidate his support for the U.S. strategy against drug trafficking.
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