©picture alliance / Newscom | Brazilian Government
The United States has labeled two Brazilian gangs as "foreign terrorist organizations". This was reported by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement on Thursday.
The gangs in question are Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC). The US Secretary of State states that they're "among the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil". Rubio explains the US' decision as follows: "They have thousands of members and have carried out brutal attacks against Brazilian police officers, officials and civilians," and their influence, according to the ministry, reaches far beyond Brazil's borders, "into our region and country". Consequently, the United States felt compelled to label the two Brazilian gangs as terrorist organizations. After all, that gives the U.S. more ability to fight them.
"The Trump administration will continue to use all available means to protect our nation and our national security interests by keeping illegal drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams that fund violent narco-terrorists," said U.S. Secretary of State, Rubio.
The U.S. has already designated several South American cartels as terrorist organizations. Indeed, this ensures that their members are not allowed to travel to the U.S. and financial transactions with them are punishable.
Brazil doesn't seem unanimously pleased with Trump's decision. Indeed, the government of Brazilian President Luiz Inácio "Lula" da Silva has been trying to avoid the gangs' designation, as it could pave the way for U.S. military action in Brazil or sanctions against banks that unwittingly do business with gang members.
Instead, conservative presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro, during a visit to U.S. President Donald Trump earlier this week, called for the gangs to be designated as terrorist organizations. Bolsonaro is the son of former Brazilian president and Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro.
©picture alliance / Newscom | Brazilian Government - Photo of the meeting between the U.S. and Brazilian presidents at the White House on May 7, 2026.