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

This notorious narcotics-smuggling militia, with roots in right-wing paramilitary forces, is present in at least 20 of Colombia's provinces.

It monopolizes key human and narcotics trafficking routes through the notorious Darién Gap and has fought leftwing rebels for control of criminal networks along the shared border.

A Political Facade?

In the past few years, the group has tried to portray itself as a political movement, like other Colombian rebel groups.

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

Official US Stance

In a Tuesday's statement, 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 emphasized it has "a membership in the thousands" and that its "main revenue stream is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its brutal campaigns."

Wider Implications

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

This government has already designated six cartels in Mexico and two in Venezuela.

Escalating Tensions

The move is expected to heighten tensions between the US and Colombia's president, who strongly opposes the US policy against Venezuela.

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

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

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

Narco-Trafficking as Pretext

The US has cited its anti-narcotics campaign to justify the maritime attacks it claims are ferrying drug shipments.

The Colombian president has described these attacks as "murder." Early on Tuesday, 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 terror list for years.

• This includes the National Liberation Army (ELN).
• It also covers dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) that resumed fighting 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.

Instead, the group unleashed a campaign of terror, assassinating police officers and local leaders and holding vast areas of the country hostage.

Obstacle to Peace

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