US Designates Brazilian Gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations

The United States Department of State announced on May 28, 2026, that it would designate Brazil's two largest criminal organizations, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV), as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. This classification serves as a precursor to their formal designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations effective June 5, 2026. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the move targets transnational networks that operate beyond Brazil's borders and have orchestrated brutal attacks against officials and civilians.

The decision followed a White House visit by Brazilian Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential candidate and rival to the incumbent, who lobbied President Donald Trump to treat the gangs as terrorists. The designations block the groups' assets within U.S. jurisdiction and criminalize material support, targeting narcotics trafficking networks that generate over $2 billion annually.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the action as an affront to national sovereignty and foreign meddling. Lula argued that the groups are profit-driven criminal enterprises rather than ideologically motivated terrorists, warning that the labels could be a pretext for U.S. military intervention or jeopardize Brazil's financial systems, including the PIX payment platform. In response, Lula accused the Bolsonaro family of treason and demanded the extradition of gang leaders living in Miami.

Critics and analysts suggest the move is a political effort by the Trump administration to boost Flávio Bolsonaro's hardline image ahead of the October elections. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil warned that unilateral measures weaken international police cooperation and information exchange.