The government of Argentina has designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) as a terrorist organization, a decision that marks a hardening of its stance against international organized crime. The measure was confirmed this Thursday through an official communiqué issued by the administration of President Javier Milei, which states that this classification is based on investigations that verify transnational illicit activities, as well as possible links with other organizations considered terrorist. What is the objective of this measure? With this declaration, Argentina joins an international trend that had previously been driven by the United States, which also classified the CJNG under this designation. The main objective of this measure is to strengthen legal mechanisms to combat organized crime, especially regarding illicit financing. The inclusion of the CJNG in official registers allows for the application of economic sanctions, the freezing of assets, and the limitation of any type of operation within the Argentine financial system. Furthermore, this decision seeks to align the South American country with international commitments on terrorism and global cooperation against criminal networks. The Government of Argentina declared the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) a terrorist organization. "The decision is based on official reports that verify transnational illicit activities, as well as links with other terrorist organizations,"... This designation comes after the death of 'El Mencho'. The designation occurs weeks after the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias 'El Mencho', the historic leader of the CJNG, who died on February 22, 2026, after being wounded in a military operation in Jalisco. His death sparked a wave of violence in different regions of Mexico, including blockades, armed clashes, and attacks against authorities, which evidenced the operational power of the criminal group even after the fall of its leader. This scenario also raised questions about the future of the cartel, as the organization faces a possible internal reconfiguration due to the dispute for leadership. Implications of the measure. The classification of the CJNG as a terrorist organization has not only legal but also political and diplomatic consequences. It allows Argentina to expand its capacity to act against international criminal networks and harden its security policy. Likewise, experts consider that this decision could influence other countries in the region to adopt similar measures, especially in the face of the growing expansion of criminal groups beyond their borders of origin.
