USA includes PCC and CV in a relationship that already reaches organizations from at least 41 countries and territories
The United States Department of State, on Thursday (May 28, 2026), that the PCC (First Capital Command) and the CV (Red Command) will be classified as organizations “terrorists” from June 5th. With the inclusion of the 2 Brazilian factions, the North American list now brings together groups linked to at least 41 countries and territories, as done from.
The count is not completely closed because several organizations operate in more than 1 country or represent transnational networks. This is the case of Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, JNIM, MS-13, Barrio 18 and Latin American cartels. Other groups are linked to territories without a broadly recognized state, such as Palestine, or to border regions, such as Kashmir, the Sahel and Baluchistan.
There are also cases in which the North American classification mixes groups of different natures. The list includes armed political organizations, militias, criminal factions, drug cartels and transnational gangs.
The United Nations, on the other hand, criminal organizations and groups “terrorists” based on its objectives: organized crime has as its central element the search for profit or material benefit; “terrorism” involves political or ideological motivations.
Here are the countries and territories represented on the list:
- Afghanistan;
- Germany;
- Algeria;
- Bahrain;
- Bangladesh;
- Brazil;
- Burkina Faso;
- Colombia;
- Egypt;
- El Salvador;
- Ecuador;
- Filipinas;
- Greece;
- Guatemala;
- Haiti;
- Honduras;
- Yemen;
- India;
- Indonesia;
- Iran;
- Iraq;
- Ireland;
- Italy;
- Lebanon;
- Libya;
- Mali;
- Mexico;
- Mozambique;
- Nigeria;
- Pakistan;
- Palestine;
- Peru;
- United Kingdom/Northern Ireland;
- Democratic Republic of the Congo;
- Syria;
- Somalia;
- Sri Lanka;
- Sudan;
- Tunisia;
- Türkiye;
- Uzbekistan;
- Venezuela.
The classification has legal, financial and migratory effects. According to the State Department, designation as an FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization) makes it a crime in the United States to give “material support” to these groups. It also allows members to be barred from entering the country and forces North American financial institutions to block funds linked to the organizations.
In the case of cartels, the White House stated in January 2025 that groups such as the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG (Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación), MS-13 and Tren de Aragua pose a threat to national security, foreign policy and the US economy. The justification cited drug trafficking, violence, control of migratory routes and influence over foreign governments.
The State Department also used the classification against Yemen’s Houthis. The North American government justified the measure by attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea and threats to international trade. After the designation, the US Treasury sanctioned financial institutions accused of helping the group access resources and payment systems.
Another example is Barrio 18, a transnational gang operating in Central America. The group was added to the list in September 2025. In this case, the effect is mainly legal and financial: blocking assets, restricting transactions and allowing charges for material support to the group.
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