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The US government 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 roots in right-wing armed groups, is present in at least 20 of Colombia's regions.

It monopolizes key human and narcotics trafficking routes through the treacherous Darién Gap and has fought leftist rebels for control of criminal networks along the Venezuelan border.

A Political Facade?

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

This strategy could grant it more favorable terms in any potential negotiations. However, it is not widely considered to have concrete political aims.

Official US Stance

In a recent announcement, the US secretary of state described the Gulf Clan—which calls itself 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 "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 initial under the current administration.

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

Escalating Tensions

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

This includes deadly airstrikes on vessels that have reportedly killed numerous people in Pacific and Caribbean waters.

The two presidents have exchanged sharp words for several weeks. After implying that any drug-producing country was a possible focus, the US president specifically mentioned Colombia, stating the Colombian leader "is going to have himself some big problems if he doesn't wise up."

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

Narco-Trafficking as Pretext

The US has used its so-called war on drugs to justify the strikes on boats it alleges are ferrying drug shipments.

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

Previous Designations

Other Colombian armed groups have been on the US terror list for years.

• This includes the National Liberation Army (ELN).
• It also covers breakaway groups of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) that took up arms again after the landmark peace agreement.

Unsuccessful Strategies

Some Colombian officials had hoped the Gulf Clan might be weakened by the arrest and deportation 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 holding large swaths of the country hostage.

A Major Hurdle

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