Argentina Formally Designates CJNG a Terrorist Organization — Joins U.S. in Classifying Cartel as FTO

Argentina officially designated the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) a terrorist organization effective March 26, 2026, making it one of the first Latin American countries to adopt formal FTO-equivalent status for the cartel — following the United States' February 2025 Foreign Terrorist Organization designation under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Argentine government cited CJNG's confirmed operational presence in more than 40 countries, its growing footprint in Argentina itself (particularly Buenos Aires and Rosario drug markets), and El Mencho's February 2026 killing, which has accelerated cartel expansion efforts into South America as successor factions seek to consolidate revenue streams. The designation enables Argentine financial sanctions, asset seizures, and operational restrictions against CJNG members and associates operating within Argentine territory. International security experts from InSight Crime and the International Crisis Group note that CJNG has been expanding into Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina since at least 2022, leveraging cocaine supply chain links developed through FARC dissident groups and local criminal intermediaries. The Argentine designation adds diplomatic momentum for regional FTO coordination and may facilitate further intelligence-sharing between Buenos Aires and Washington on CJNG's Latin American network.