Pressure Mounts in Mexico to Label Cartel Violence as Terrorism

In Mexico, there’s increasing pressure on the government to officially refer to the brutal violence perpetrated by drug cartels as “terrorism.” This push contradicts the stance of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who has consistently stated that such violence shouldn’t be classified in that way.

This call for terminology change gained traction over the weekend in Guanajuato, right after gunmen associated with cartels attacked a soccer match, resulting in 11 deaths and injuring 12 others.

Carlos Bautista, a State Representative from Michoacán, quickly responded to the incident both publicly and through social media, asserting that the attack epitomized terrorism.

“If the killing of 11 people during a soccer match in Salamanca today isn’t terrorism, then what is?” Bautista questioned in his statement. “And if we don’t label a young suicide bomber willing to kill as a kamikaze, what term should we use?”

He added, “If a car bomb or any bomb doesn’t fit the definition of terrorism, then what does? It is terrorism, plain and simple. We need to call it what it is!”

Bautista, who identifies as an independent politician and is part of the Hut Movement—a group advocating for farmworkers—has a personal connection to the topic, being a friend of the late Uruapan Mayor Carlos Manzo. Manzo faced a cartel assassination following his firm opposition to cartels and his vocal criticism of the federal government.

President Claudia Sheinbaum has a track record of minimizing cartel violence in Mexico. She has even criticized the drug war approach, arguing against direct confrontations with cartels, citing human rights violations among cartel members. This position has drawn significant scrutiny from the U.S. government, which has labeled certain cartels as terrorist organizations and is aiming for their eradication.