I feel like I should expand on my comment because it's not exactly what I mean.
In the same way political and religious groups are funded abroad by the CIA I believe the cartels are funded in the same way, but differently due to the makeup of south america.
Much of south and central America is already christian or catholic.
Funding political groups actually has a decent chance of blowing up in Americas face, which is okay abroad, but bad when it's on your closest border.
This in turn leaves the US to fund neither of these groups, so instead they fund what can only be considered "business" or "financial" terrorists. This gives the US so much breathing room because it makes most people not even see them as terrorists, they're just "doing business". And it gives the US an excuse to vilify drugs and such. So yes they are business partners, but only in the sense that the US could not use the exact playbook they do everywhere else.
I think most large cartels are essentially allowed to exist and thrive so the DEA and CIA can destabilize Central and South America.
More partners than fronts
I feel like I should expand on my comment because it's not exactly what I mean.
In the same way political and religious groups are funded abroad by the CIA I believe the cartels are funded in the same way, but differently due to the makeup of south america.
Much of south and central America is already christian or catholic.
Funding political groups actually has a decent chance of blowing up in Americas face, which is okay abroad, but bad when it's on your closest border.
This in turn leaves the US to fund neither of these groups, so instead they fund what can only be considered "business" or "financial" terrorists. This gives the US so much breathing room because it makes most people not even see them as terrorists, they're just "doing business". And it gives the US an excuse to vilify drugs and such. So yes they are business partners, but only in the sense that the US could not use the exact playbook they do everywhere else.
Escobar's brother admitted he was CIA funded if that means anything.
for decades the Sinaloa Cartel was allowed to operate freely in exchange for cooperating with US security appartus and intel on other cartels