Using Special Operations Forces to Counter Mexican Cartels: An Irregular Analysis
Sound bites and clickbait surrounding the 2024 US presidential election often emphasized the national security threat posed by Mexican drug cartels to the United States. These narratives frequently advocated for aggressive countermeasures, including the potential deployment of special operations forces (SOF) to combat cartel activities and their impact on national security. This threat gained renewed attention when President Trump signed an Executive Order on the eve of his second inauguration, officially labeling these cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
Central to this discussion is whether the president has the authority to deploy SOF for irregular warfare against these powerful criminal organizations. While this approach demands military precision, its success depends on a broader strategy that integrates counterterrorism, counterinsurgency, foreign internal defense, and counter-threat finance. Operational and political challenges abound, from navigating international cooperation with Mexico to combating cartels deeply embedded in local communities. A comprehensive strategy must dismantle cartel infrastructure, disrupt financial networks, and address the root socioeconomic drivers of the drug trade, all while ensuring clear objectives and a viable exit plan to avoid prolonged conflict and foster lasting regional stability. A key aspect of this strategy must also account for the political ramifications of such military deployments, including the potential loss or capture of U.S. service members, insider attacks from Mexican forces, and mounting pressure from constituents during surges of cartel counterattacks on American soil.
Well-Armed Adversary
One critical challenge to consider when debating whether SOF should be employed in an irregular capacity against Mexican drug cartels is the sheer firepower these groups possess. Cartels have amassed arsenals that rival those of military forces, including Gatling guns, armored vehicles, and landmines. Alarming examples of their capabilities include the Mexican authorities’ seizure of a heat-seeking FIM-92 Stinger missile, as well as reports of two Javelin anti-tank missile systems being recovered from the New Generation Jalisco Cartel. This level of militarization underscores the complexity and risks associated with engaging these groups using SOF tactics.
Complicating matters even more is the reality that irregular warfare against these cartels will not be a one-way street. Cartel membership is uniquely linked to the population where key cartel members will have a grip over the civilian base as well as local politicians and government officials. The population, which would still be under the cartel’s open control and probably still is under its hidden control through the existing political cells, cannot cooperate spontaneously even if there is every reason to believe that a majority is sympathetic to the counterinsurgent – aka US SOF.
Other irregular tactics and techniques that can be exploited by the cartels include utilizing information and examples from distant war zones, such as using improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and drones. Drones have exponentially changed the face of warfare in the recent Russo-Ukrainian conflict; however, experimentation by the Mexican drug cartels with drone narco-trafficking is believed to have started as early as 2010. More recently, cartels are using drones to drop explosive devices and drugs, as well as surveil human smuggling routes and guide the flow of migrants in real-time. In 2023, Tucson-based Border Patrol agents exchanged gunfire with cartel members and later discovered ten IEDs along the border. If the cartels are not able to purchase high explosive artillery or mortar shells for the base of the IED, they can just as easily concoct an ammonium nitrate fertilizer and fuel oil bomb, like the creation of Tim McVeigh, infamously known for the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
Spillover Violence
If US SOF were deployed to attack Mexican drug cartels, the cartels could retaliate by escalating their criminal activities, starting in US border towns and cities but swiftly metastasizing to major cities and soft-target venues across the country. With deeply rooted networks of informants, traffickers, and local affiliates, these organizations might orchestrate cross-border kidnappings, murders, and other violent acts targeting US citizens, law enforcement, Border Patrol, or even military personnel. An alert of similar messaging was issued to law enforcement in the El Paso area in 2010 when cartels and associated gangs began to direct more violence against Mexican authorities and use new forms of weaponry such as car bombs and grenades. Cartels could exploit their familiarity with the region’s geography and infrastructure to strike in areas where they have influence, using sophisticated surveillance, bribery, developed tunnel networks, and intimidation to evade detection. Their tactics might include high-profile acts of violence designed to sow fear and demonstrate their reach, such as public executions or attacks on symbolic targets. Such retaliatory measures would not only escalate the conflict but also pose significant challenges for security and stability in the border region.
Mexican drug cartels, with their embedded networks in major US cities, pose a serious threat of retaliatory violence if targeted by US special operations. These networks are composed of distributors, money and weapons launderers, and couriers, as well as a sophisticated social media presence to digitally advertise, sell products, collect payments, recruit, and train. Their highly sophisticated operations—ranging from smuggling networks and gang alliances to embedded urban cells—grant them the ability to orchestrate targeted attacks and acts of retribution on American soil. This transnational reach and capacity for extreme violence underscore their transformation into entities capable of asymmetric warfare, making any military action against them a likely catalyst for heightened violence and domestic instability.
Recognizing this escalating threat, President Trump issued a series of Executive Orders aimed at preemptive countermeasures. His administration reinforced physical border barriers, deployed additional personnel to establish operational control, and initiated the mass deportation of illegal aliens with criminal records, some of whom were suspected of cartel ties.
Financial Attacks
Another critical approach to effectively combating drug cartels is to focus on dismantling their financial networks. By targeting the illicit flow of money that sustains their operations, the United States can disrupt the cartels’ ability to bribe officials, acquire weapons, and expand their influence. Cutting off these financial lifelines is essential to weakening their power and long-term viability. To weaken drug cartels, the United States and Mexico must intensify efforts to dismantle their financial networks. The 2007 Mérida Initiative laid the groundwork by leveraging technology, specialized training, and advanced equipment to target drug trade revenues and combat money laundering. Building on the success of Operation Firewall—a 2005 program by ICE and CBP that addressed bulk cash smuggling, wire transfers, and other laundering methods—authorities can further disrupt the financial pipelines that sustain cartel operations.
Sharing of Intelligence/Training
Drawing parallels to Colombia’s campaign against Pablo Escobar in the 1990s and US operations during the Global War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, the fight against Mexican drug cartels would require a similar approach. Mexican special operations forces must take the lead, while US involvement focuses on training, advising, and intelligence sharing to ensure the operation is perceived as a national effort. In past successes, US military support extended beyond intelligence sharing to include joint training and operational accompaniment, reinforcing the image that local forces were at the forefront while the US played a strictly supportive role. This model fosters both operational effectiveness and public trust.
At the close of 2023, Mexico’s former president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, formally requested the approval of the Mexican Senate to allow members of the US 7th Special Forces Group (SFG) to conduct training exercises within the country. These personnel would operate under the authority of Mexico’s Ministry of Defense. Foreign Internal Defense (FID) plays a crucial role in the US Special Forces’ broader irregular warfare mission. Collaborative training between US SOF and Mexico’s SOF units, such as the Cuerpo de Fuerza Especiales and their special mission unit, Fuerza Especial de Reacción, is essential in the fight against cartels. This partnership is not without its dark moments. Some elite members of Mexico’s special operations forces, trained by the US Army’s 7th Special Forces Group (7th SFG), later defected to form the notorious Los Zetas cartel. Despite this troubling history, it hasn’t derailed the broader relationship between the United States and Mexico.
While the incident highlights the challenges of fighting organized crime in a region plagued by corruption and cartel influence, it also underscores the importance of continued collaboration. The United States and Mexico have strengthened their partnership through initiatives like the Mérida Initiative and by working closely in areas such as intelligence sharing, law enforcement, and military support. These efforts show a mutual commitment to overcoming shared threats and maintaining a resilient alliance despite the setbacks of the past.
In 2010, the Mexico Fusion Center, located within the US Embassy in Mexico City, aimed to target high-value individuals to disrupt drug cartels and address global threats. While primarily focused on US interests, the center also provided valuable opportunities for collaboration with Mexican intelligence agencies like the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia (CNI). By integrating US surveillance technology with Mexico’s local networks, both nations could enhance situational awareness and strengthen coordinated operations against cartel leadership.
However, incorporating Mexican nationals into the Fusion Center presented additional challenges. A separate US-only intelligence facility at the embassy underscored the delicate balance between trust, sovereignty, and the need for effective bilateral cooperation. These challenges made it difficult at times to fully integrate Mexican intelligence personnel into the Fusion Center, highlighting the complexities of fostering collaboration while respecting national boundaries and security concerns.
Cultural Dependency
Although Mexican drug cartels do not meet the traditional definition of insurgencies—lacking widespread popular support or loyalty—they still manage to build significant influence through their provision of resources in underserved areas. This influence fosters social ties with local populations, which cartels exploit to further their reach and power. To effectively combat these organizations, operations must adopt counterinsurgency strategies that not only target the cartels directly but also disrupt the social networks they have cultivated. By weakening these connections, we can undermine the cartels’ grip on vulnerable communities and limit their ability to operate with impunity.
Mexican cartels wield immense financial power and resources, enabling them to corrupt politicians, government officials, police, and military personnel while simultaneously offering humanitarian aid to local communities to secure loyalty and expand their influence. Without the support of these government entities amongst the local population, these cartels simply cannot operate. Some examples include Colombia’s Pablo Escobar handing out food and throwing fiestas; Sinaloa Cartel’s El Chapo giving money for churches and soccer stadiums; and Gulf Cartel’s Osiel Cárdenas Guillén distributing food to the people of southern Tamaulipas in the wake of Hurricane Ingrid in 2013. Many of these criminal groups deployed COVID-19 assistance in addition to personal hygiene supplies to help their political agenda or simply demonstrate their governance capability.
Direct Action
If the US were to deploy special operations forces (SOF) to combat drug cartels in Mexico, direct action (DA) missions would likely be pivotal but fraught with exceptional risks due to the cartels’ firepower, territorial control, and intelligence capabilities. These high-intensity operations would focus on neutralizing cartel leadership, dismantling narcotics production, and disrupting supply chains through precision raids, interdictions, and surgical strikes. Collaboration with Mexican special operations units would be crucial to navigating political sensitivities, leveraging local expertise, and minimizing civilian harm. Missions would require robust intelligence, operational security, and advanced tactics such as close-quarters battles, sniper engagements, and rapid exfiltration to ensure effectiveness while maintaining operational integrity and mitigating the risk of retaliation.
Ultimately, these efforts would require a delicate balance of immediate, kinetic action and long-term strategic planning. By partnering with Mexican counterparts, US SOF could amplify their impact, working not only to dismantle cartel operations but also to undermine their influence within the region—all while maintaining a strong focus on minimizing civilian casualties and respecting Mexico’s sovereignty. Focusing efforts on specific cartels could make the use of kinetic military action more acceptable to the Mexican government and enhance its immediate deterrent effect. However, in the long term, this approach risks being counterproductive. Smaller, less dominant cartels may seize the opportunity to expand their operations and escalate violence as they compete to fill the power vacuum left behind, perpetuating the cycle of instability rather than resolving it.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while the prospect of deploying US special operations forces (SOF) against Mexican drug cartels presents serious challenges, the urgency of the threat demands decisive action. The cartels’ military-grade weaponry, entrenched influence, and adaptability to irregular warfare make a purely military solution both risky and unsustainable. Legal and diplomatic barriers, particularly the necessity for Mexican consent, further complicate unilateral intervention. Moreover, retaliation through escalated violence would undoubtedly increase instability, weakening US security interests.
To effectively combat this pervasive threat, a more comprehensive and coordinated approach is essential. This strategy must integrate military precision with efforts to disrupt the cartels’ financial networks, enhance intelligence sharing, and strengthen partnerships with Mexican forces. Strategic planning must account for the duration of the war, the toll on American lives, the financial burden, and, most critically, the resolve to see it through to completion—especially when the cartels retaliate on U.S. soil. US intervention should focus on empowering Mexico to lead the fight against the cartels while providing critical support. This collaborative, long-term strategy must address not only the immediate threats but also the root causes of cartel power, including socioeconomic vulnerabilities and political corruption. Only through such a unified, sustained effort can we dismantle the cartels, enhance regional stability, and safeguard US national security.
