Latin American Nations Begin Designating Crime Groups as Terrorists at Trump's Request

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that leaders of countries across Latin America and the Caribbean have begun formally designating criminal groups as terrorist organizations, an effort undertaken at the request of President Trump.

According to Rubio, an increasing number of regional leaders are moving to apply the terrorist label to organized crime groups operating in their countries. He indicated that these designations could serve as a public justification for potential military strikes against such groups.

Context

The statement points to a broader push by Washington to encourage allied governments in the region to use terrorism designations as a legal and political tool, one that could pave the way for further action against organized crime networks in Latin America and the Caribbean. The source report does not specify which countries have already taken this step or which particular groups are being designated.

Rubio's remarks were made in the context of the U.S. administration's wider approach to regional security, in which labeling criminal networks as terrorist organizations is being framed as a step that could open the door to more direct involvement, including possible military action. No further details were provided on when or how such military measures might be carried out.