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The US government has formally classified the Gulf Clan, Colombia's most dominant and formidable criminal group, as a terrorist entity.

This notorious drug-trafficking militia, with origins in right-wing armed groups, operates in at least 20 of Colombia's regions.

It controls key people- and drug-smuggling routes through the treacherous Darién Gap and has fought leftist rebels for control of criminal networks along the Venezuelan border.

A Political Facade?

In the past few years, the organization has sought to rebrand itself as a political force, akin to other Colombian insurgent factions.

This strategy could grant it more favorable conditions in any potential negotiations. However, it is generally not seen to have tangible political objectives.

Official US Stance

In a recent statement, the US top diplomat labeled the Gulf Clan—which goes by the name the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC)—as a "brutal and influential criminal organisation."

He stated it has "a membership in the thousands" and that its "main revenue stream is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its brutal campaigns."

Broader Context

While other Colombian armed factions have been listed as terrorist groups before, this decision is the initial under the current administration.

This government has previously targeted multiple syndicates in Mexico and two in Venezuela.

Escalating Tensions

The move is likely to exacerbate strains between the US and Colombia's president, who has vocally criticized the US pressure campaign against Venezuela.

This includes lethal military strikes on vessels that have reportedly killed scores of people in coastal waters.

The two leaders have traded public barbs for weeks. After warning that any drug-producing country was a possible focus, the US president singled out Colombia, stating the Colombian leader "is going to have significant difficulties if he doesn't change course."

The Colombian president responded by cautioning his US counterpart to "avoid provoking a strong response" with militaristic threats.

Narco-Trafficking as Pretext

The US has cited its war on drugs to explain the strikes on boats it alleges are transporting illicit cargo.

The Colombian president has described these attacks as "unlawful killing." Recently, the US military stated it had carried out new strikes on three vessels near Colombia's Pacific coast, leading to eight fatalities.

Previous Designations

Other Colombian criminal organisations have been on the US foreign terrorist organisations list for years.

• This encompasses the National Liberation Army (ELN).
• It also covers breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) that resumed fighting after the 2016 peace agreement.

Unsuccessful Strategies

Some Colombian officials had hoped the Gulf Clan might be weakened by the arrest and deportation of its main leader to the US in 2022.

Instead, the group initiated a wave of violence, killing police officers and local leaders and keeping vast areas of the country in a state of fear.

A Major Hurdle

The Gulf Clan is now engaged in halting talks with the government. It is seen as the key impediment to the president's stumbling "total peace" plan, which aims to end the country's multifaceted armed conflict.