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The US government has added to its list the Gulf Clan, Colombia's largest and most powerful criminal group, as a foreign terrorist organization.

This notorious drug-trafficking faction, with origins in far-right paramilitary forces, operates in at least 20 of Colombia's regions.

It controls key human and narcotics trafficking routes through the treacherous Darién Gap and has battled leftist rebels for control of illicit operations along the shared border.

Political Posturing

In recent years, the cartel has sought to rebrand itself as a political movement, akin to other Colombian insurgent factions.

This maneuver could grant it more favorable terms in any potential peace talks. However, it is not widely considered to have tangible political objectives.

Official US Stance

In a recent statement, the US secretary of state labeled the Gulf Clan—which goes by the name the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC)—as a "violent and powerful criminal organisation."

He emphasized it has "thousands of members" and that its "primary source of income is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its armed operations."

Wider Implications

While other Colombian criminal groups have been listed as terrorist groups before, this designation is the first under the current administration.

This government has already designated six cartels in Mexico and two in Venezuela.

Escalating Tensions

The decision is set to worsen tensions between the US and Colombia's president, who has vocally criticized the US policy against Venezuela.

This includes deadly airstrikes on vessels that have allegedly killed scores of people in coastal waters.

The two leaders have traded public barbs for several weeks. After warning that any drug-producing country was a possible focus, the US president singled out Colombia, stating the Colombian leader "will face himself some big problems if he doesn't wise up."

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

Narco-Trafficking as Pretext

The US has used its so-called anti-narcotics campaign to justify the maritime attacks it alleges are transporting illicit cargo.

The Colombian president has labeled these operations as "unlawful killing." Early on Tuesday, the US military announced it had carried out new strikes on three vessels near Colombia's Pacific coast, leading to eight fatalities.

Previous Designations

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

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

Failed Weakening Attempts

Some authorities in Colombia had believed the Gulf Clan might be crippled by the arrest and deportation of its top commander to the US in 2022.

On the contrary, the group unleashed a campaign of terror, killing police officers and local leaders and holding vast areas of the country in a state of fear.

A Major Hurdle

The Gulf Clan is now involved in halting talks with the government. It is seen as the primary barrier to the president's stumbling "total peace" plan, which aims to end the country's complex armed conflict.