Vast territories in Mexico are not controlled by the state, but by terrorist cartels, said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, adding that Mexico’s efforts to stop them are not nearly enough. In his statements, Rubio implied that the threat posed by terrorist cartels will be dealt with, with or without Mexico’s help. “The Mexicans have done more than ever before to go after these groups, but it is still not nearly enough,” Rubio said during a visit to Ecuador, where he met with the country’s leadership in an effort to strengthen that country’s efforts in fighting organized crime. “They know that. We have expressed that to them.”
Rubio said that despite the newfound cooperation with Mexico’s government, there are vast territories under the control of the cartels. “The people of Mexico will tell you that,” the secretary said. “The number one issue in Mexico, poll after poll shows, is security. Political candidates are routinely assassinated in Mexico, judges routinely assassinated, journalists who report on the cartels routinely assassinated by these groups.” Various countries in Central and South America have opened the door to full U.S. support in eradicating cartels. This support includes military assets working with local forces in targeting and taking out terrorist cartels. This, however, has not happened in Mexico, where President Claudia Sheinbaum has tried to hide under the banner of national sovereignty in an attempt to keep U.S. troops out of Mexico.
