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

This infamous drug-trafficking militia, with origins in far-right armed groups, operates in at least 20 of Colombia's provinces.

It monopolizes key human and narcotics trafficking routes through the notorious Darién Gap and has battled leftist rebels for control of illicit operations along the Venezuelan border.

A Political Facade?

In recent years, the organization has attempted to present itself as a political movement, similar to other Colombian insurgent factions.

This maneuver could secure it more favorable terms in any potential peace talks. However, it is largely not viewed to have concrete political aims.

US Government Statement

In a Tuesday's announcement, the US secretary of state 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 "thousands of members" and that its "main revenue stream is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its violent activities."

Broader Context

While other Colombian criminal groups have been listed as terrorist groups before, this designation is the first under the present US government.

This administration has previously targeted six cartels in Mexico and two in Venezuela.

Escalating Tensions

The decision is expected to heighten tensions 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 Pacific and Caribbean waters.

The two leaders have exchanged sharp words for several weeks. After implying that any narcotics-producing country was a possible focus, the US president specifically mentioned Colombia, stating the Colombian leader "will face himself some big problems if he doesn't change course."

The Colombian president retorted by cautioning his US counterpart to "not wake the jaguar" with threats of military action.

Narco-Trafficking as Pretext

The US has cited its war on drugs to explain the strikes on boats it claims are ferrying drug shipments.

The Colombian president has described these attacks as "murder." Early on Tuesday, the US military stated 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 years.

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

Failed Weakening Attempts

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

Instead, the group initiated a campaign of terror, assassinating police officers and local leaders and keeping large swaths of the country in a state of fear.

Obstacle to Peace

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