US Designates Colombia’s Largest Drug-Trafficking Gang as Terrorists

[Starmix]

Colombia’s largest drug-trafficking gang, Clan del Golfo, was labeled as terrorists, just as the group engaged in talks with the country’s leftist government. The move comes as President Donald Trump‘s administration controversially carries out a strike at sea against purported drug traffickers on boats around Venezuela.

The report stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the United States was designating Clan del Golfo as a foreign terrorist organization and specially designated global terrorists, making any US support for them a crime. The United States will continue to use all available tools to protect our nation and stop the campaigns of violence and terror committed by international cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

The report added that the Clan del Golfo has origins in right-wing paramilitary organizations. It is responsible for shipping hundreds of tons of cocaine annually to the United States and Europe, according to Colombian military intelligence.

The report also said that Colombian President Gustavo Petro, the US ally’s first leftist leader, has sought to negotiate with armed groups since his election in 2022. His government and Clan del Golfo held new talks earlier this month in Qatar, in which they agreed to further negotiations.

In addition, the Trump administration has sought to weaken Petro, including by slapping US sanctions on him personally. Rubio has publicly called Petro a lunatic.

Petro, earlier this year, became a rare foreign leader to defy Trump openly on his key goal of deporting migrants.

Source: The Defense Post

 

[gwolf666]

The case of the Clan del Golfo and its designation as a terrorist organization by the United States reflects the complexity of the political and security landscape in the region. On the one hand, it is clear that this group has an enormous criminal history, with paramilitary ties and a cocaine trafficking capacity that directly affects North America and Europe. However, there is also the attempt by Gustavo Petro's government to open a space for negotiation, which generates a clash of visions between Washington and Bogotá. The Trump administration's decision to personally sanction Petro and intensify operations in the Caribbean adds further tension to an already delicate situation. Interestingly, while some are betting on confrontation, others are seeking dialogue. The outcome of these opposing positions will have a direct impact on Colombia's stability and on bilateral relations.