Security and Interdependence between Mexico and the United States of America (2019-2023): How do they avoid declaring Drug Traffickers as Terrorists?

Abstract

This article aims to explain through the theoretical perspective of complex interdependence why Mexico and the United States do not designate drug traffickers as terrorists in order to combat them. The theory proposes a mutual dependence between States, so the vulnerability and sensitivity exposed by the theory will be analyzed to explain how their interests and priorities are affected in this security issue. The period from 2019 to 2023 is specifically analyzed because a recent debate resurfaced in the United States in regards to declaring drug trafficking organizations as terrorists.

The article is divided into four sections: the first explains the theoretical approach, the second analyzes the increase in violence in Mexico, the third focuses on the perspective of the United States to consider drug traffickers as terrorists or not in the period of 2019 to 2020. The fourth section analyzes the cooperation of the Mexican government from 2020 to 2023 in order to prevent drug traffickers from being declared terrorists in a general framework of complex interdependence.