Americano Which Latin American narco-state will Trump topple next?
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Jan 5, 2026 Freddy Gray is joined by Joshua Trevino, Chief Transformation Officer at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, who specializes in Latin American dynamics. They explore how guerrilla groups evolved into powerful cartels forming dangerous state-cartel partnerships. Trevino argues for military involvement against narco-states and delves into the complexities within Mexico's cartel landscape. He highlights Cuba's vulnerability and its role in recent operations, while also discussing Marco Rubio's influence in shaping U.S. policy and the implications for regional stability.
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State–Cartel Synthesis Explained
- Narco-states form when leftist autocracies synthesize with criminal cartels into mutually beneficial partnerships.
- This state-cartel fusion is more dangerous than 1990s mafia-style crime because it controls formal power and territory.
Guerrillas Turned Parastate Actors
- Guerrilla groups like the FARC and ELN began trafficking to self-fund and evolved into parastate actors controlling territory.
- They developed governance, taxation and cartel behaviors that blurred insurgency with organized crime.
Mexico Is A Strategic Exception
- Mexico presents the hardest strategic problem due to size, border proximity and political links between elites and cartels.
- Tactical arrests are possible, but strategic regime change is needed to remove political actors allied with cartels.