• The US has designated Colombia's Gaitanist Army of Colombia (EGC) as a terrorist organization.
• This classification could complicate ongoing peace negotiations between the EGC and the Colombian government.
• Analysts warn of potential escalation in violence due to the designation.
• The EGC is deeply involved in drug trafficking and extortion across Colombia.
• The US designation allows for legal actions against individuals assisting the EGC.

The United States has officially designated Colombia's largest criminal group, the Gaitanist Army of Colombia (EGC), also known as Clan del Golfo, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT). This decision was announced by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who described the EGC as a "violent and powerful criminal organization" responsible for numerous terrorist acts in Colombia, particularly in drug trafficking and extortion activities. The group's engagement in illegal enterprises has raised alarms in both Colombia and the US, prompting the designation to curb its influence and operational capabilities, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

Analysts caution that this US designation could significantly impact ongoing peace negotiations that the Colombian government is conducting with the EGC in Qatar. While the US aims to dismantle the group's financial networks, there are concerns that the designation may escalate violence and impede dialogue. Gerson Arias, a conflict investigator, noted that the classification complicates the discussions on extradition, which is a critical issue in the negotiations, suggesting it makes non-extradition guarantees almost impossible, according to Latin America Reports.

The EGC, which has made efforts to position itself as a political entity within Colombia's internal conflict, faces increasing pressure as the US designation opens new legal avenues against supporters and financiers of the organization. This risks severing crucial ties with legitimate businesses, often described as having deep connections within Colombia’s economy. Elizabeth Dickinson from the International Crisis Group highlighted that the implications of this designation extend beyond the group's immediate operations to broader economic impacts, according to Latin America Reports and Al Jazeera.

While the US designation could assist Colombia's government in unraveling the EGC’s financial structure, it simultaneously presents challenges for continuing the peace process initiated earlier this month with a formal agreement to pursue disarmament by March 2026. Analysts like Dickinson argue that while the framework does not inherently doom the peace talks, it places the Colombian government in a difficult position regarding the provision of security guarantees for EGC leaders attending negotiations, as noted in reports by Reuters and Latin America Reports.