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The American administration has added to its list the Gulf Clan, Colombia's most dominant and formidable criminal organization, as a foreign terrorist organization.

This notorious drug-trafficking faction, with origins in far-right armed groups, operates in at least 20 of Colombia's departments.

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 Venezuelan border.

A Political Facade?

In the past few years, the cartel has attempted to present itself as a political movement, akin to other Colombian rebel groups.

This strategy could grant it different conditions in any potential negotiations. However, it is not widely considered to have genuine 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 "violent and powerful criminal organisation."

He noted it has "a membership in the thousands" and that its "main revenue stream is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its armed operations."

Broader Context

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

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

Growing Diplomatic Strain

The move is set to worsen strains between the US and Colombia's president, who strongly opposes the US policy against Venezuela.

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

The two leaders have traded public barbs for several weeks. After warning that any drug-producing country was a potential target, the US president specifically mentioned 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 used its so-called war on drugs to justify the maritime attacks it alleges are transporting illicit cargo.

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

Other Listed Groups

Other Colombian armed groups have been on the US foreign terrorist organisations list for years.

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

Unsuccessful Strategies

Some Colombian officials had believed the Gulf Clan might be crippled by the capture and extradition of its main leader to the US in 2022.

Instead, 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 involved in stalled talks with the government. It is considered the primary barrier to the president's stumbling "comprehensive peace" plan, which aims to end the country's multifaceted armed conflict.