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

This notorious drug-trafficking faction, with roots in far-right armed groups, is present in at least 20 of Colombia's departments.

It controls key human and narcotics trafficking routes through the notorious Darién Gap and has clashed leftwing 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 force, akin to other Colombian rebel groups.

This strategy could grant it different terms in any potential negotiations. However, it is not widely considered to have tangible political objectives.

Official US Stance

In a recent announcement, the US secretary of state described 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 violent activities."

Broader Context

While other Colombian criminal groups have been listed as terror entities before, this ruling is the initial under the present US government.

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

Escalating Tensions

The action is expected to heighten 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 allegedly killed scores of people in Pacific and Caribbean waters.

The two presidents 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 wise up."

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

The "War on Drugs" Justification

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

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, resulting in eight fatalities.

Other Listed Groups

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

• 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 landmark peace agreement.

Unsuccessful Strategies

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

On the contrary, 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.

A Major Hurdle

The Gulf Clan is now engaged in stalled talks with the government. It is considered the key impediment to the president's stumbling "comprehensive peace" plan, which aims to end the country's complex armed conflict.