The U.S. State Department on Tuesday announced that Colombia’s Clan del Golfo, a powerful drug cartel, has been designated a foreign terrorist organization, a move that could open the door to military action and intensify an already strained relationship with the Colombian government.
US Designation and Its Implications
The designation was described by the State Department as a “violent and powerful criminal organization” that uses cocaine trafficking to fund violent activities. “Clan del Golfo is responsible for terrorist attacks against public officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and civilians in Colombia,” the statement said. The move increases financial pressure on the cartel’s members and expands the legal framework that could be used for attacks against them, although it does not give the U.S. immediate authority to conduct military strikes.
Background on Clan del Golfo
Clan del Golfo, also known by its Spanish acronym AGC, is estimated to have 9,000 fighters. It evolved from right-wing paramilitary squads that fought Marxist guerrillas in Colombia in the 1990s and 2000s. A report from the Human Rights Defender’s Office last year found that AGC is present in about a third of Colombia’s 1,103 municipalities, extorts local businesses, and has been accused of recruiting children.
Peace Talks and Agreements
The cartel has been in peace talks with the Colombian government since September, with a potential disarmament of its fighters in exchange for reduced sentences for its leadership. Earlier this month, the Colombian government and AGC signed an agreement in Qatar. Under the pact, the cartel’s fighters will be allowed to gather in specially designated zones in northern and western Colombia starting next March, where they will be free from prosecution while peace talks continue. The agreement also states that the Colombian government will suspend any extradition of AGC leaders to the U.S. during negotiations.
Reactions and Broader Context
Colombia’s relationship with Washington has reached a historic level of tension. “The tensions between Colombia and Washington are at historic levels,” said Elizabeth Dickinson, a Colombia analyst at the International Crisis Group. Dickinson added that the designation is usually meant to stop third parties from doing business with targeted groups, but that it could be more “symbolic” and will “give pause to Colombian authorities … going forward.”
The U.S. had earlier added Colombia to a list of nations failing to cooperate in the drug war in September. In October, the United States sanctioned Petro over accusations that he had allowed drug cartels in the South American nation to “flourish” and export cocaine to the U.S. – accusations that he vehemently denied, arguing that Colombia is intercepting record levels of cocaine shipments without killing suspected smugglers.
Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated Venezuelan gangs Tren de Aragua and Cartel de los Soles as foreign terrorist organizations, before launching strikes against alleged drug smuggling boats off the coast of Venezuela, whose legality has been questioned by U.S. lawmakers. The administration has also accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of sending drug shipments to the U.S.
Last week, Trump said Petro has been “fairly hostile” to the U.S. and that he was “going to have himself some big problems if he doesn’t wise up.”
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. has designated Colombia’s Clan del Golfo as a foreign terrorist organization, tightening sanctions and expanding legal options for action.
- The cartel, with roughly 9,000 fighters, is engaged in peace talks that could lead to disarmament in exchange for reduced sentences.
- The move adds to growing tensions between Washington and Bogotá, amid broader U.S. efforts to curb drug trafficking in the region.
The designation marks a significant escalation in the U.S. campaign against drug cartels in Latin America, potentially setting the stage for future military involvement and intensifying diplomatic friction with Colombia.
