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The American administration has officially designated the Gulf Clan, the nation's most dominant and formidable criminal group, as a foreign terrorist organization.

This infamous narcotics-smuggling faction, with roots in far-right paramilitary forces, operates in at least 20 of Colombia's provinces.

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

A Political Facade?

In recent years, the organization has sought to rebrand itself as a political force, similar to other Colombian insurgent factions.

This strategy could secure it different terms in any potential negotiations. However, it is not widely considered to have genuine 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 "brutal and influential criminal organisation."

He noted it has "thousands of members" and that its "primary source of income is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its violent activities."

Wider Implications

While other Colombian armed factions have been designated as terrorist groups before, this ruling is the first under the present US government.

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

Growing Diplomatic Strain

The action is expected to heighten tensions between the US and Colombia's president, who has vocally criticized the US pressure campaign against Venezuela.

This encompasses lethal military strikes on vessels that have reportedly killed numerous people in Pacific and Caribbean waters.

The two leaders have traded public barbs for weeks. After warning that any narcotics-producing country was a potential target, 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 warning his US counterpart to "avoid provoking a strong response" with militaristic threats.

The "War on Drugs" Justification

The US has used its so-called anti-narcotics campaign to justify the strikes on boats it claims are ferrying drug shipments.

The Colombian president has described these operations as "murder." Early on Tuesday, the US military stated it had carried out new strikes on three vessels near Colombia's Pacific coast, resulting in eight fatalities.

Other Listed Groups

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

• This includes the National Liberation Army (ELN).
• It also includes dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) that took up arms again after the 2016 peace agreement.

Failed Weakening Attempts

Some Colombian officials had believed the Gulf Clan might be crippled by the capture and extradition of its main leader to the US in 2022.

Instead, the group unleashed a wave of violence, 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 seen as the key impediment to the president's struggling "comprehensive peace" plan, which aims to end the country's many-sided armed conflict.