
Mexico's Hybrid Violence: Cartel Tactics, Tactical Evolution, and the Impact of the 2025 FTO Designations
In February 2025, the U.S. State Department formally designated the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and several other Mexican criminal organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). These groups have evolved into 'hybrid violent actors,' deploying IEDs, armed drones, political assassinations, and disinformation campaigns — blurring the line between organized crime and terrorism and posing severe threats to Mexican governance and regional security.
Source: Small Wars Journal










