MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government has firmly maintained that drug cartels should be classified as “organized crime” rather than “terrorism,” a direct contradiction to the stance frequently asserted by the United States.

During her daily morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that “organized crime” is the correct legal classification for cartels under the Mexican Code of Criminal Procedure. She noted that these specific crimes are investigated by the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for Organized Crime (FEMDO).

President Sheinbaum explicitly rejected the United States’ use of the “terrorism” designation, explaining that Mexico defines terrorism differently under its own legal framework. She emphasized that the Mexican government has already modified Articles 19 and 40 of the Constitution to prevent any potential foreign intervention based on the U.S. classification.

“It must be very clear that the use of the term ‘terrorism’ by the U.S. government cannot give it any license for actions in Mexico other than cooperation without subordination,” Sheinbaum asserted.

The Mexican government has reportedly notified the neighboring country of this stance through both telephone communications and formal meetings with authorities.