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The US government has added to its list the Gulf Clan, Colombia's largest and most powerful criminal group, as a terrorist entity.

This notorious narcotics-smuggling militia, with roots in far-right paramilitary forces, operates in at least 20 of Colombia's regions.

It monopolizes key people- and drug-smuggling routes through the notorious Darién Gap and has fought leftist rebels for control of illicit operations along the shared border.

A Political Facade?

In recent years, the organization has tried to portray itself as a political force, similar to other Colombian insurgent factions.

This strategy could grant it different conditions in any potential peace talks. However, it is largely not viewed to have tangible political aims.

US Government Statement

In a Tuesday's announcement, the US secretary of state described the Gulf Clan—which goes by the name the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC)—as a "violent and powerful 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 designated as terror entities before, this ruling is the initial under the current administration.

This administration has previously targeted six cartels in Mexico and two in Venezuela.

Escalating Tensions

The action is likely to exacerbate tensions between the US and Colombia's president, who strongly opposes the US pressure campaign against Venezuela.

This encompasses 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 implying that any narcotics-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 change course."

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

Narco-Trafficking as Pretext

The US has used its so-called anti-narcotics campaign to justify the strikes on boats it claims are transporting illicit cargo.

The Colombian president has described these attacks as "murder." Early on Tuesday, the US military announced it had carried out further attacks 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 a long time.

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

Failed Weakening Attempts

Some Colombian officials had hoped the Gulf Clan might be crippled by the arrest and deportation of its main leader to the US in 2022.

On the contrary, the group initiated a wave of violence, assassinating police officers and local leaders and keeping large swaths of the country hostage.

A Major Hurdle

The Gulf Clan is now involved in halting talks with the government. It is regarded as the key impediment to the president's struggling "total peace" plan, which aims to end the country's multifaceted armed conflict.