Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump declared that Mexico is “the epicenter” of cartel-related violence and called on the Mexican government to take back control of areas dominated by organized crime.
Trump argued that it is unacceptable for the United States to share a roughly 2,000-mile (3,200-kilometer) border with territory he claims is under cartel control. He referred to Mexican drug cartels—which his administration designated as terrorist organizations in 2025—as “enemies of humanity,” while acknowledging that President Claudia Sheinbaum’s government also opposes them. He praised what he described as a strong working relationship between Washington and Mexico City.
During his lengthy remarks at the opening of the UN’s 81st General Assembly session, Trump also defended his decision earlier this year to launch a military strike in Venezuela aimed at capturing former leader Nicolás Maduro, who faces US drug-trafficking charges. He touted at least 70 strikes against vessels in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean allegedly used for drug smuggling, which have killed 234 suspected traffickers—actions some experts have criticized as extrajudicial killings.
For more details on Trump’s remarks and Mexico’s response, read the full story from Reforma.
Source: México es el epicentro de los cárteles, dice Trump ante ONU (Reforma).
Image: Wonderlane, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).