U.S. Designates Colombia's Clan del Golfo as Foreign Terrorist Organization

U.S. State Department Labels Clan del Golfo a Terrorist Group

The U.S. State Department officially designated the Clan del Golfo, a prominent Latin American drug cartel based in Colombia, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on December 16, 2025. This action, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks a significant escalation in the United States' efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations and their illicit activities. The designation was made pursuant to Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) and Executive Order 13224.

Implications of the Designation

The dual designation carries substantial legal and financial ramifications. It enables the U.S. government to impose a wide array of economic sanctions, including the freezing of any assets held by the Clan del Golfo within U.S. financial institutions. Furthermore, it becomes unlawful for any person in the United States or subject to U.S. jurisdiction to knowingly provide 'material support or resources' to the designated organization. Non-citizen members or representatives of the Clan del Golfo are also rendered inadmissible to, and in certain circumstances, removable from the United States.

Secretary Rubio stated that the U.S. '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.' This move is part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to intensify pressure on such groups, which has included similar designations for other Latin American cartels and gangs.

Understanding the Clan del Golfo

The Clan del Golfo, also known by aliases such as the Gaitanist Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC) or the Gaitanist Army of Colombia (EGC), is described as a 'violent and powerful criminal organization with thousands of members.' Based primarily in Colombia's Urabá region of Antioquia, the group's influence extends across the country. Authorities estimate its membership to be in the thousands, with some reports suggesting up to 9,000 to 14,000 fighters and a broader criminal structure.

The cartel's primary source of income is cocaine trafficking, reportedly responsible for nearly half of Colombia's drug exports. Beyond drug trafficking, the Clan del Golfo engages in a range of illicit activities, including:

• Extortion
• Illegal mining
• Embezzling resources from local governments
• Migrant trafficking through the Darién Gap

The group is notorious for its use of violence, having carried out 'terrorist attacks against public officials, law enforcement and military personnel, and civilians in Colombia.' It emerged from the remnants of demobilized paramilitary groups in the early 2000s.

Impact on Colombian Peace Talks

The designation could complicate ongoing peace talks between the Clan del Golfo and the Colombian government. While the Colombian government and the AGC recently signed an agreement in Qatar allowing fighters to gather in designated zones and suspending the extradition of leaders during negotiations, the U.S. designation introduces a new dynamic. U.S. officials and analysts have warned that Washington would view any formal negotiations with a designated terrorist organization differently, potentially hardening positions and impacting regional security cooperation.