The United States government has officially classified the Brazilian criminal factions Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as terrorist organizations [1].

This designation allows the U.S. to utilize expanded legal tools to target individuals, companies, and financial networks linked to these groups. By shifting the classification from organized crime to terrorism, the administration aims to strengthen international cooperation and disrupt the funding mechanisms of the factions [1, 2].

The Trump administration announced the designation on May 28, 2026 [3], and the measure became effective on May 5, 2026 [1].

In Brazil, the reaction to the move has been divided. Governor Tarcísio de Freitas said the U.S. decision was an opportunity to combat the groups more effectively [1]. However, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he did not discuss the classification of the PCC and CV as terrorist groups during his meeting with President Trump [4, 5].

The move has also sparked political friction within the U.S. government. A group of 247 Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio requesting that the U.S. not classify these factions as terrorists [6].

While some reports suggest the two nations defended expanding cooperation against organized crime during high-level meetings, the official stance from the Brazilian presidency remains that this specific reclassification was not a topic of direct discussion [4, 5].

“The U.S. aims to expand the legal tools available to combat individuals, companies, and financial networks linked to the groups.”

The reclassification represents a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy toward Latin American organized crime. By applying a terrorism label, the U.S. can employ more aggressive sanctions and surveillance tools that are not available under standard narcotics or gang-related statutes. This creates a diplomatic tension between the Trump administration's security goals and the Brazilian government's desire to manage its internal security without external legal designations.