U.S. designates 21 Latin American criminal groups as terrorists
The Trump administration has designated 21 Latin American and Caribbean criminal groups as foreign terrorist organizations, extending a label once reserved for groups like Islamic State and al-Qaida to money-driven cartels and gangs. The strategy, rolled out in February 2025 and highlighted during Secretary of State Marco Rubio's regional visit, has been used as a pretext for capturing Nicolás Maduro and for attacks on alleged "narcoterrorist" boats that killed more than 200 people. The designations spurred similar actions by some Latin American governments, joint operations on Ecuadorian soil, and increased diplomatic pressure on countries such as Mexico, which has eight groups on the list.
Twenty-one groups were designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S.
Context
The designations began in February 2025 as part of a U.S. anti-drug strategy. They were expanded during a regional visit by the U.S. secretary of state. The policy has led to captures and cross-border operations and could prompt more…
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