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The New Front in America’s National Security: Combating Narcoterrorism

President Trump’s landmark executive order designating major drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) marks a watershed moment in America’s approach to national security and strategic competition against China. This reclassification acknowledges an uncomfortable truth: the fentanyl crisis is not merely a law enforcement challenge but a sophisticated form of irregular warfare targeting American society, with cartels serving as proxies in a broader strategic campaign orchestrated by China against U.S. interests.

The devastating impact of this proxy warfare is reflected in stark statistics. According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, synthetic opioids, primarily fentanyl, were responsible for over 70,000 deaths in 2022. The Drug Enforcement Administration has meticulously documented how Mexican cartels have industrialized fentanyl production using precursor chemicals sourced predominantly from China, creating what amounts to a chemical weapons supply chain targeting American communities. These aren’t merely crime statistics – they represent casualties in an irregular war being waged through proxy forces, with networks stretching from Beijing through Sinaloa and into every major American city.

The Brookings Institution has documented how this crisis disproportionately impacts working-class communities, creating zones of social instability that strain local governments and emergency services – precisely the type of internal disruption that aligns with China’s strategic objectives. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates the economic burden of the opioid crisis exceeds $1 trillion, representing a significant drain on American resources and societal resilience. This continued deficit reduces our ability to reinvest in competition with China, while contributing to the ballooning national debt.

The designation of cartels as FTOs reflects a crucial evolution in our understanding of modern security threats. Traditional definitions of terrorism focus on political violence, but today’s security landscape demands we recognize that economic warfare and social destabilization can be equally potent weapons. The Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute has tracked how Mexican cartels, under Chinese influence, have transformed from regional drug trafficking organizations into sophisticated transnational threats that serve Beijing’s strategic interests.

The Chinese connection is central to understanding this new form of warfare. A 2023 Congressional Research Service report detailed how Chinese chemical companies continue to supply Mexican cartels with essential precursor chemicals, despite Beijing’s official promises of cooperation. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission has identified systematic patterns of Chinese chemical firms knowingly supplying cartel operations. This arrangement aligns perfectly with what Chinese military theorists term “unrestricted warfare” – a doctrine outlined in their 1999 military publication that explicitly advocates using non-military means, particularly the introduction of illicit drugs, to weaken adversaries.

By designating cartels as FTOs, the Trump administration gains access to powerful tools under the PATRIOT Act and related counterterrorism legislation. This designation also enables a range of new options, among them enhanced surveillance authorities, stronger sanctions against facilitators, and improved international cooperation frameworks. The Treasury Department can now more aggressively target the financial networks that sustain cartel operations, particularly focusing on their connections to Chinese entities.

Critics argue that this designation risks militarizing what should remain a law enforcement response. However, this perspective fundamentally misunderstands the sophisticated nature of Chinese proxy warfare through cartel operations. These organizations have evolved beyond mere criminal enterprises into quasi-military forces that advance Beijing’s strategic interests. Cartels employ tactics traditionally associated with insurgent groups, effectively serving as irregular warfare units motivated exclusively by financial gain.

The Council on Foreign Relations reports that cartels now operate sophisticated intelligence networks and maintain armed wings capable of challenging state security forces – capabilities that mirror those of traditional proxy forces. The Financial Action Task Force has highlighted how cartel financial operations increasingly mirror those of state-sponsored networks, using sophisticated money laundering techniques that exploit the global financial system. This new reality reflects China’s mastery of hybrid warfare approaches seen around the world that blend criminal activities with strategic objectives. Confronting this threat requires recognizing cartels as instruments of Chinese strategic policy rather than independent criminal enterprises.

The path forward requires a multi-faceted approach that acknowledges the true nature of this proxy warfare. At its foundation, we must strengthen international cooperation to disrupt Chinese chemical supply chains feeding cartel operations. This effort must be paired with enhanced intelligence sharing focused specifically on China-cartel connections. Finally, we must recognize that addressing the demand side of the equation through public health measures remains crucial.

President Trump’s designation of cartels as FTOs represents more than a semantic shift – it’s a recognition that America faces a sophisticated campaign of assault by proxy orchestrated by China. In an era where adversaries increasingly employ indirect methods to weaken American society, this recategorization provides the legal and operational framework needed to mount an effective response.

Our success in confronting this challenge will require sustained commitment, international cooperation, and a willingness to think beyond traditional security paradigms. President Trump’s executive order is a crucial first step, but the real test lies in our ability to disrupt China’s irregular warfare networks and hold accountable all actors involved in this attack on American society.

Disclaimer: The views expressed are the author’s and do not represent official US government, Department of Defense, or Department of the Army positions.

The post The New Front in America’s National Security: Combating Narcoterrorism appeared first on Small Wars Journal by Arizona State University.

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