US Slams Colombia's Gulf Clan as Terrorist Organization

US Designates Colombia's Gulf Clan as Foreign Terrorist Organization in Major Escalation of Global War on Drugs In a significant move aimed at disrupting the country's vast network of people- and drug-smuggling routes, the United States has designated Colombia's notorious Gulf Clan, the country's largest and most powerful illegal armed group, as a foreign terrorist organization. The move, announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on October 14, marks a major shift in international recognition of the Gulf Clan's brutal tactics and far-reaching influence. According to Rubio, the Gulf Clan is a violent and powerful drug-trafficking militia present in at least 20 of Colombia's departments, dominating people- and drug-smuggling routes through the Darién Gap, which connects Colombia to Central America. The designation aims to disrupt the group's operations and undermine its influence in the region. The Gulf Clan, with its roots in far-right paramilitary forces, has been a major player in Colombia's illicit narcotics trade for years. According to a report by the US State Department, the group is responsible for a significant portion of the country's cocaine production and trafficking. The designation as a foreign terrorist organization is a significant escalation of the global war on drugs, and it is expected to have far-reaching implications for regional security and global counter-narcotics efforts. The move has been welcomed by experts and officials who have long called for increased international pressure on the Gulf Clan. "This designation is a major step forward in the fight against organized crime and terrorism in Colombia," said a spokesperson for the Colombian government. "We look forward to working with the US to disrupt the Gulf Clan's operations and bring its leaders to justice." The designation also marks a significant shift in the US approach to the global war on drugs. According to a report by the US State Department, the Gulf Clan is responsible for a significant portion of the country's cocaine production and trafficking, and its operations have been linked to violent crime and terrorism in the region. The US has a long history of designating foreign terrorist organizations, but this move is significant given the Gulf Clan's influence in the region. The designation is expected to have far-reaching implications for regional security and global counter-narcotics efforts, and it is likely to be closely watched by other countries in the region. As the US continues to ramp up its efforts to disrupt the Gulf Clan's operations, the Colombian government is also taking steps to address the group's influence in the country. According to a spokesperson for the Colombian government, the government is working to strengthen its security forces and improve its intelligence capabilities in order to better combat the group. The US designation of the Gulf Clan as a foreign terrorist organization is a significant escalation of the global war on drugs, and it is expected to have far-reaching implications for regional security and global counter-narcotics efforts. As the US and Colombia continue to work together to disrupt the group's operations, it remains to be seen how the Gulf Clan will respond to the increased pressure.