Argentina designates Mexico's Jalisco cartel as terrorist organization
Argentina's government formally added the Jalisco New Generation Cartel to its terrorism registry, enabling financial sanctions and operational restrictions.
6:42 PM
Argentina's government on Thursday formally designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, known as CJNG, as a terrorist organization and ordered its inclusion in the country's public registry of individuals and entities linked to terrorism and its financing.
The announcement came from the office of President Javier Milei. According to an official statement, the decision is based on reports documenting the group's transnational criminal activities and links to other terrorist entities.
Inclusion in Argentina's terrorism registry, known as RePET and administered by the Justice Ministry, enables the government to impose "financial sanctions and operational restrictions" aimed at limiting the capacity of the criminal organization and its members. The measure also seeks to protect Argentina's financial system from illicit use and reinforce collaboration with countries that have already classified the group as terrorist.
The Argentine government framed the decision as part of "international commitments assumed by Argentina in the fight against terrorism and its financing." The move aligns Argentina with U.S. security policy, which designated the cartel as a terrorist organization in 2025.
President Milei, a prominent right-wing figure in Latin America, has forged close relations with U.S. President Donald Trump and is considered one of Washington's principal geopolitical allies in the region. The Argentine government signalled that the designation was intended to bolster partnerships with countries like the United States in combating drug trafficking and organized crime.
The CJNG is one of Mexico's most powerful drug trafficking organizations, with operations spanning multiple countries. The cartel is involved in drug and weapons trafficking activities across transnational networks.
The decision was coordinated among Argentina's ministries of Foreign Affairs, Security, and Justice, according to official communications from the presidential office.