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The United States has officially designated the Gulf Clan, the nation's largest and most powerful illegal armed organization, as a terrorist entity.

This infamous narcotics-smuggling faction, with origins in far-right armed groups, is present in at least 20 of Colombia's departments.

It controls key people- and drug-smuggling routes through the notorious Darién Gap and has battled leftwing rebels for control of illicit operations along the Venezuelan border.

Political Posturing

In recent years, the group has sought to rebrand itself as a political force, akin to other Colombian rebel groups.

This strategy could secure it different terms in any potential negotiations. However, it is largely not viewed to have concrete political objectives.

US Government Statement

In a recent statement, the US secretary of state described 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 "main revenue stream is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its violent activities."

Wider Implications

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

This administration has already designated six cartels in Mexico and a pair in Venezuela.

Growing Diplomatic Strain

The decision is set to worsen strains 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 scores of people in coastal waters.

The two presidents have traded public barbs for weeks. After implying that any drug-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 change course."

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

Narco-Trafficking as Pretext

The US has used its so-called war on drugs to explain the strikes on boats it claims are transporting illicit cargo.

The Colombian president has described these operations as "unlawful killing." Recently, the US military announced it had conducted new strikes on three vessels near Colombia's Pacific coast, resulting in eight fatalities.

Previous Designations

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

• This includes 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.

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.

Instead, 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.

Obstacle to Peace

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