🔗 Share this article

The American administration has officially designated the Gulf Clan, the nation's largest and most powerful illegal armed group, as a foreign terrorist organization.

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

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

A Political Facade?

In the past few years, the group has attempted to present itself as a political movement, akin 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 objectives.

US Government Statement

In a recent announcement, the US top diplomat labeled the Gulf Clan—which calls itself 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 armed operations."

Wider Implications

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

This government has previously targeted six cartels in Mexico and a pair in Venezuela.

Growing Diplomatic Strain

The move is set to worsen tensions between the US and Colombia's president, who has vocally criticized the US policy against Venezuela.

This encompasses lethal military strikes on vessels that have allegedly killed scores of people in coastal waters.

The two presidents have exchanged sharp words for several weeks. After implying that any narcotics-producing country was a potential target, the US president singled out Colombia, stating the Colombian leader "is going to have significant difficulties if he doesn't wise up."

The Colombian president responded by cautioning his US counterpart to "avoid provoking a strong response" with militaristic threats.

The "War on Drugs" Justification

The US has cited its war on drugs to explain the maritime attacks 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, leading to eight fatalities.

Previous Designations

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

• 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 2016 peace agreement.

Failed Weakening Attempts

Some authorities in Colombia had hoped the Gulf Clan might be crippled by the arrest and deportation of its top commander to the US in 2022.

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

A Major Hurdle

The Gulf Clan is now involved in halting talks with the government. It is seen as the main obstacle to the president's stumbling "comprehensive peace" plan, which aims to end the country's many-sided armed conflict.