Part 9/12:
The Calderón era's military approach highlighted the complexities of confronting heavily armed and well-resourced criminal organizations. While direct combat operations can temporarily weaken parts of the cartel infrastructure, they often lead to higher violence and territorial fragmentation, making long-term solutions elusive.
Modern strategies are leaning toward a hybrid approach—strengthening intelligence capabilities, targeted arrests, financial disruption, and regional cooperation. There's recognition that solely military solutions are insufficient; instead, a significant focus is on disrupting the cartels’ finances, especially their lucrative fentanyl trade.