JOHN KOUFOS: Trump’s ‘Shield of the Americas’ could help defend us from cartels
The author argues that the US-led “Shield of the Americas” initiative could help counter cartels by treating them as international organisations rather than separate local crime problems. He says designating major groups as foreign terrorist organisations gives authorities stronger tools to disrupt their finances and coordinate action across borders.
The article names the Sinaloa Cartel, Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Tren de Aragua among eight designated groups. It says the designations allow assets to be frozen and impose penalties for providing material support, while the initiative promotes intelligence sharing and military coordination. The author criticises Brazil’s expected absence from the coalition and argues that gaps between governments have helped criminal networks operate.
In short
- US initiative designates eight criminal groups as terrorist organisations.
- Author says financial disruption and cross-border cooperation could weaken cartels.
- Brazil is described as a key holdout from the coalition.
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The case for
Treating major cartels as cross-border organisations could help governments share intelligence, disrupt financing and coordinate action against networks that exploit gaps between jurisdictions. Supporters may argue that terrorist-organisation designations add useful legal tools, while a regional coalition could make it harder for cartels to move money, people and weapons across borders.
The case against
Critics may argue that applying terrorism frameworks to criminal groups risks expanding exceptional powers and blurring the distinction between terrorism and profit-driven crime, with consequences for civil liberties and due process. They may also question whether military coordination and asset freezes will weaken cartels without addressing the conditions that sustain them, and whether excluding or pressuring governments such as Brazil would undermine regional cooperation.
Explained simply
Cartels are criminal networks that traffic drugs and make money through activities such as extortion and smuggling. Some operate across national borders, which can make investigations harder when police and other authorities have different information and powers.
The Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel are among the best-known groups in Mexico; Tren de Aragua began in Venezuela and has spread to other countries. The United States can designate groups as foreign terrorist organisations, a legal step that can allow authorities to freeze their assets and punish people who knowingly provide them with material support.
The “Shield of the Americas” is a US-led initiative for countries in the region to share intelligence and coordinate security efforts. Its approach reflects a debate over how far governments should treat cartel activity as a cross-border security issue, and how to work together while respecting each country’s laws and decisions.
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