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The US government has added to its list the Gulf Clan, Colombia's most dominant and formidable illegal armed group, as a terrorist entity.

This notorious drug-trafficking militia, with roots in right-wing paramilitary forces, operates in at least 20 of Colombia's departments.

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

Political Posturing

In recent years, the group has attempted to present itself as a political movement, similar to other Colombian rebel groups.

This maneuver could secure it more favorable conditions in any potential negotiations. However, it is not widely considered 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 emphasized it has "thousands of members" and that its "main revenue stream is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its armed operations."

Broader Context

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

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

Growing Diplomatic Strain

The decision is set to worsen tensions between the US and Colombia's president, who strongly opposes the US pressure campaign against Venezuela.

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

The two presidents have traded public barbs for weeks. After implying that any narcotics-producing country was a potential target, 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 "not wake the jaguar" with militaristic threats.

Narco-Trafficking as Pretext

The US has used its so-called anti-narcotics campaign to explain the maritime attacks it alleges are ferrying drug shipments.

The Colombian president has labeled these attacks as "murder." Early on Tuesday, the US military announced it had conducted further attacks on three vessels near Colombia's Pacific coast, leading to eight fatalities.

Other Listed Groups

Other Colombian criminal organisations have been on the US foreign terrorist organisations list for a long time.

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

Failed Weakening Attempts

Some Colombian officials had hoped the Gulf Clan might be crippled by the capture and extradition of its top commander to the US in 2022.

On the contrary, the group initiated a campaign of terror, assassinating police officers and local leaders and keeping large swaths of the country hostage.

A Major Hurdle

The Gulf Clan is now involved in halting talks with the government. It is considered the primary barrier to the president's struggling "total peace" plan, which aims to end the country's many-sided armed conflict.