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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday called on countries of a US-led alliance in Latin America to impose sanctions on 24 criminal networks, hours after he described drug trafficking gangs as the 'Islamic State of the Western Hemisphere'.
During a meeting of the 'Shield of the Americas' alliance on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Trump urged all member countries to 'officially classify drug-related terrorist organizations as common threats to stability'.
The 'Shield of the Americas' alliance, established by Trump, includes governments allied with Washington and aims to combat drug trafficking and organized crime in the region.
Fifteen participating countries issued a joint statement announcing their intention to impose asset freezes, visa restrictions, and seek to prosecute members and supporters of 24 criminal organizations.
The list is topped by two groups classified by Washington as terrorist organizations: 'Mara Salvatrucha' (MS-13), one of the most powerful criminal gangs in Central America, and 'Tren de Aragua', a Venezuelan gang also active in Colombia, Peru, and Chile.
It also includes major Mexican cartels, Colombian armed groups including the National Liberation Army (ELN), and the 'Primeiro Comando da Capital' and 'Comando Vermelho' organizations in Brazil, and the 'Shining Path' movement in Peru.
The US President called on participating countries to 'impose overwhelming sanctions on all 24 foreign terrorist organizations classified by the United States'.
Trump said in his speech at the UN General Assembly, 'The cartels are the Islamic State of the Western Hemisphere. They are not good people, but enemies in a war against civilization'.
The joint statement was signed by the United States, Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guyana, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago.
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