Part 6/19:
Marino advocates for designating cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, which would allow the US government to deploy a wider set of tools, including more aggressive military and intelligence operations. Such a move would enable targeted strikes against cartel leadership and infrastructure, potentially reducing their influence and operational capacity.
He cautioned, however, that unilateral military actions could strain US-Mexico relations, especially given Mexico’s internal corruption and the risk of escalating violence. Still, Marino expressed confidence that, with enough diplomatic pressure and strategic planning, Mexico could be persuaded to intensify its efforts to combat cartels.