Americano What fresh hell in Mexico?
Feb 23, 2026
Melissa Ford Maldonado, director focused on Western Hemisphere security, explains the fallout from El Mencho's death. She outlines cartel retaliation and their evolution into armed political actors. She discusses state capture, alleged cartel-state alliances, and how US pressure and Mexican politics shape responses. The conversation compares tactics, motives, and possible US policy options.
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El Mencho's Death Triggered Military Scale Retaliation
- Mexico's CJNG leader El Mencho was captured and died in custody, triggering cartel-wide, military-scale retaliatory attacks across many states.
- Videos show armored convoys, rockets and torched roads in Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, forcing a US shelter-in-place advisory for Americans in Mexico.
Cartels Function As Political-Military Actors
- Mexican cartels now operate like political actors with military capabilities, not just drug-trafficking mafias.
- CJNG and others field anti-armor and anti-aircraft weapons, making them capable of confronting Mexico's armed forces.
Cartels Control Large Swathes Of Mexican Territory
- Much of Mexico is effectively under cartel control, with cartels partnering with or capturing state actors.
- Former ambassador Christopher Landau estimated cartels control 35–40% of Mexican territory, signaling a partial surrender of sovereignty.