Mexican Cartels and U.S. National Security: Between Criminal Economies and Securitization Discourses

Authors

  • Jerjes Aguirre Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, México Author
  • Eva Grissel Castro Instituto Michoacano de Ciencias de la Educación, Morelia, México Author
  • Josue Tonathiú López Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, México Author

Abstract

The U.S. Department of State designated several Mexican cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) in February 2025. This measure reignited debates about the threat these groups pose to U.S. national security. This article contends that such classification exaggerates their role as transnational terrorist actors and risks distorting bilateral security cooperation. Drawing on an ethnographic study of cartels in Michoacán, the analysis highlights three defining features: their primarily economic orientation, their reliance on systemic corruption, and the absence of ideological agendas directed at the United States. These characteristics distinguish cartels from traditional terrorist organizations. Their impact on U.S. security is indirect—deriving from the destabilization of Mexico's institutions and society, which undermines regional stability and U.S. strategic interests. The study concludes that cartels should be understood as powerful criminal corporations embedded in Mexico's political and economic structures. Their threat lies in eroding governance south of the border rather than in any direct existential challenge. The article further argues that the FTO designation may exacerbate violence and complicate bilateral cooperation while creating new legal and financial risks for legitimate businesses.

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Author Biographies

  • Jerjes Aguirre, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, México

    Dr. Jerjes Aguirre Ochoa has served as a Professor and Researcher at the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Mexico, for over twenty-two years. His scholarly work is primarily devoted to the study of crime, organized criminal networks, and national security, with a particular focus on the intersection between governance and illicit economies.

    He has authored and co-authored more than forty peer-reviewed scientific articles, contributing to both national and international debates on security and criminology. In addition to his research output, Dr. Aguirre Ochoa has played a significant role in academic formation, having supervised and graduated over twenty doctoral candidates in the sciences, thereby consolidating a new generation of specialists in the field.

    Widely recognized as a leading Mexican expert on issues of security, organized crime, and public policy, his work combines empirical research with theoretical rigor, situating him as a reference point in contemporary discussions on the challenges posed by criminal organizations to state institutions and regional stability.

  • Eva Grissel Castro, Instituto Michoacano de Ciencias de la Educación, Morelia, México

    Dr. Eva Grissel Castro Coria holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and a Master’s degree in Law with a specialization in the Humanities. Her academic research focuses on legal certainty, regulatory compliance, and the protection of human rights. She advances proposals for institutional safeguarding mechanisms through the design of criminal and administrative risk management strategies, contributing to the strengthening of governance and the resilience of public institutions.

  • Josue Tonathiú López, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolas de Hidalgo, Morelia, México

    Ph.D. in Public Policy, specialized in the analysis and design of strategies from a scientific and academic perspective to address social and institutional challenges in Mexico, particularly in the state of Michoacán. His work focuses on the prosecution and administration of justice, public security, and the study of criminal phenomena and delinquency. The results of his research have been published in scientific journals and edited volumes, contributing both to the academic debate and to the design of public policies aimed at improving security and justice in the country

References

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Published

25.03.2026

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): International Journal of Contemporary Security Studies (First Online - Accepted Papers)

Section

International Journal of Contemporary Security Studies

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Copyright (c) 2026 Jerjes Aguirre, Eva Grissel Castro, Josue Tonathiú López (Author)

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How to Cite

Aguirre, J., Castro, E. G., & López, J. T. (2026). Mexican Cartels and U.S. National Security: Between Criminal Economies and Securitization Discourses. International Journal of Contemporary Security Studies, 2(1), 61-70. https://contemporarysecuritystudies.com/journal/article/view/54