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

This infamous narcotics-smuggling faction, with roots in right-wing armed groups, is present in at least 20 of Colombia's regions.

It controls key human and narcotics trafficking routes through the notorious Darién Gap and has battled leftist rebels for control of illicit operations along the shared border.

A Political Facade?

In recent years, the organization has sought to rebrand itself as a political force, akin to other Colombian insurgent factions.

This strategy could grant it more favorable terms in any potential negotiations. However, it is generally not seen to have tangible political aims.

US Government Statement

In a Tuesday's announcement, the US top diplomat described 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 "thousands of members" and that its "primary source of income is cocaine trafficking, which it uses to fund its armed operations."

Wider Implications

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

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

Escalating Tensions

The action is set to worsen tensions between the US and Colombia's president, who has vocally criticized the US policy against Venezuela.

This encompasses lethal military strikes on vessels that have allegedly killed numerous people in Pacific and Caribbean waters.

The two presidents have traded public barbs for several 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 himself some big problems if he doesn't wise up."

The Colombian president responded by cautioning his US counterpart to "not wake the jaguar" with threats of military action.

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 "unlawful killing." Early on Tuesday, the US military stated it had carried out further attacks on three vessels near Colombia's Pacific coast, resulting in eight fatalities.

Other Listed Groups

Other Colombian criminal organisations 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 resumed fighting after the landmark peace agreement.

Unsuccessful Strategies

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

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

A Major Hurdle

The Gulf Clan is now engaged in halting talks with the government. It is regarded as the primary barrier to the president's stumbling "total peace" plan, which aims to end the country's many-sided armed conflict.