The United States government's decision to classify Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and Comando Vermelho (CV) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations has provoked strong repercussions in the international press. The measure, announced by the U.S. State Department, is now being analyzed not only from the point of view of public security, but also for its potential diplomatic, economic, and political effects.
In a statement released this Thursday (28), the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated that the two Brazilian factions are among the most violent criminal organizations in the country and confirmed that the new classification will take effect from June 5.
According to Rubio, PCC and CV "are two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil" and will now be designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
The New York Times highlights the Bolsonaro family's actions.
One of the most influential newspapers in the United States, the The New York Times He directly linked the US government's decision to the political maneuvering of the Bolsonaro family.
"Following renewed pressure from the Bolsonaros, the US classifies Brazilian gangs as terrorist groups," the newspaper highlighted in its headline on the subject.
The publication stated that the measure was taken after "months of aggressive lobbying by the sons of the imprisoned former president, Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of Trump."
The newspaper added that "the move comes just days after two of Bolsonaro's sons, one of whom plans to run for president later this year, visited Trump at the White House."
The report also drew attention to the potential diplomatic impacts of the decision. According to the publication, the initiative could generate new friction between Brasília and Washington.
The newspaper stated that the US decision "threatens to bring renewed tension to relations between the two largest nations in the Western Hemisphere, which have only recently begun to repair their relations."
According to the publication, there is concern among members of the Brazilian government that the measure could influence the national political landscape.
"This has generated concern among Brazilian authorities that the US may be trying to influence the upcoming elections, helping a new Bolsonaro. Flávio Bolsonaro stated that he will challenge President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, of the left, in the October elections, whom he accuses of being lenient with crime."
Possible impacts on banks and companies
Another point highlighted by The New York Times This concerns the economic consequences of classifying factions as terrorist organizations.
According to the newspaper, the framework allows the US government to expand economic sanctions mechanisms against individuals, companies, or institutions that maintain commercial or financial relationships with organizations included on this list.
"The designation by the US could cause major headaches for the banking sector, as it could allow the US to impose sanctions on Brazilian institutions that may have done business with the criminal gangs," the report stated.
The publication also warned of the growing infiltration of organized crime into sectors of the formal Brazilian economy.
“Experts say this represents a significant risk, as Brazilian criminal gangs have managed to infiltrate the formal economy, accumulating stakes in gas distribution, the real estate market, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. This leaves Brazilian financial institutions vulnerable.”
The Financial Times sees political momentum for Flávio Bolsonaro.
In the UK, the Financial Times He also linked the Trump administration's decision to Flávio Bolsonaro's recent visit to the United States.
According to the British newspaper, the classification had been under consideration by US authorities for months, but the timing of the announcement could have political repercussions.
"Although Washington had been considering the change for at least a year, the timing chosen [for the decision] will give a boost to the 45-year-old senator, known for his firm stance on law and order," the newspaper highlighted.
The newspaper also highlighted the Brazilian government's resistance to the measure.
"The Lula government resisted the measure, arguing that the groups do not pursue ideological objectives and that the designation could lead to a US military intervention in Brazil."
For Financial TimesThis initiative has the potential to hinder the rapprochement that had been building between the Lula and Trump governments.
"Although a rapprochement between the [Trump and Lula] governments was already underway, as evidenced by Lula's visit to Washington earlier this month, Thursday's measure could jeopardize that progress."
Al Jazeera points to the risk of expanding US influence.
The broadcaster Al JazeeraThe Qatari official addressed the decision within the broader context of the Trump administration's foreign policy toward Latin America.
According to the network, since returning to the White House, Trump has been expanding the use of terrorism classification against criminal organizations in the region.
"Since returning to the White House for a second term, Trump has sought to designate various Latin American criminal networks as 'terrorists.'"
The broadcaster highlighted that the strategy has been the target of criticism in several countries.
“These efforts have been criticized as a pretext to expand US military influence in the Western Hemisphere, as part of Trump’s ‘Donroe Doctrine,’ his version of the 19th-century expansionist policy known as the Monroe Doctrine.”
The report also assessed that the decision could have direct repercussions on the Brazilian political landscape.
“Trump has already intervened in Brazilian politics in favor of the Bolsonaro family. Last year, he increased import tariffs on Brazil to almost 50% in an act of solidarity with Bolsonaro's father, former president Jair Bolsonaro.”
The text also mentioned the legal developments involving the former Brazilian president.
“Like Trump, Jair Bolsonaro was indicted for attempted subversion of democracy after his defeat in the 2022 elections. Despite Trump's appeals for the case against Bolsonaro to be dropped, the former president ended up being sentenced to 27 years in prison.”
France24 highlights the divergence between left-wing and right-wing governments.
In Europe, the French broadcaster France24 It highlighted the different reactions of Latin American governments to the classifications promoted by the United States.
According to the report, countries governed by center-left leaders tend to show greater resistance to the measure, while right-wing administrations usually support this type of framework.
"Countries like Mexico and Brazil, with center-left leaders, have vehemently opposed the designations [of criminal gangs as terrorists], while others, such as Ecuador and Honduras, governed by right-wing governments, have supported them."
The broadcaster also assessed that the measure represents a political challenge for President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
"From a political standpoint, the designation of terrorist is a clear affront to Lula, who left a face-to-face meeting with Trump in Washington earlier this month 'very satisfied'," the report stated.
Decision broadens international debate
The global repercussions of the measure demonstrate that the classification of the PCC and Comando Vermelho has gone beyond the field of public security and has become part of discussions about international relations, the economy, and Brazilian domestic politics.
While supporters of the initiative argue that it expands the tools for combating transnational organized crime, critics warn of potential diplomatic, commercial, and electoral impacts. The issue is likely to remain at the center of the debate in the coming weeks, especially with the measure scheduled to take effect in early June.
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