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The US government has officially designated the Gulf Clan, Colombia's most dominant and formidable criminal group, as a terrorist entity.

This notorious drug-trafficking faction, with roots in far-right paramilitary forces, operates in at least 20 of Colombia's departments.

It dominates key human and narcotics trafficking routes through the treacherous Darién Gap and has fought leftist rebels for control of illicit operations along the shared border.

A Political Facade?

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

This strategy could grant it different conditions in any potential peace talks. However, it is not widely considered to have concrete political objectives.

Official US Stance

In a Tuesday's announcement, the US secretary of state labeled the Gulf Clan—which calls itself 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 brutal campaigns."

Wider Implications

While other Colombian armed factions have been designated as terror entities before, this ruling is the first under the current administration.

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

Growing Diplomatic Strain

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

The two presidents have exchanged sharp words for weeks. After implying that any drug-producing country was a possible focus, the US president singled out Colombia, stating the Colombian leader "is going to have significant difficulties if he doesn't change course."

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

The "War on Drugs" Justification

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

The Colombian president has described these attacks as "unlawful killing." Early on Tuesday, the US military announced it had conducted new strikes on three vessels near Colombia's Pacific coast, leading to eight fatalities.

Other Listed Groups

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

• This encompasses 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 2016 peace agreement.

Failed Weakening Attempts

Some authorities in Colombia had hoped the Gulf Clan might be crippled by the capture and extradition of its main leader to the US in 2022.

Instead, the group initiated a campaign of terror, killing police officers and local leaders and keeping vast areas of the country in a state of fear.

A Major Hurdle

The Gulf Clan is now involved in fragile 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 multifaceted armed conflict.