According to the executive director of Instituto Sou da Paz, Carolina Ricardo, the decision could hinder cooperation between institutions in both countries
The Brazilian Public Security Forum (FBSP) regretted this Thursday (28) the United States State Department’s classification of designating the First Capital Command (PCC) and the Red Command (CV) as terrorist organizations. In a statement, the institution said that it was a “sovereign decision of the North American country”, but regretted the way it was decided.
“The FBSP regrets that an issue with profound implications for Brazil’s sovereignty and autonomy, its economy, financial system and regional and international cooperation mechanisms, has been captured by the electoral dispute,” he wrote.
Carolina Ricardo, the executive director of the Sou da Paz Institute, told Young Pan that the benefit of the decision was only for the USA. “If there is a beneficial aspect, it is exclusively for the American government. Making this classification, like the actions we saw with Venezuela of intercepting ships, carrying out actions in the territory of another country that may violate international laws, does not necessarily generate benefits for the country where the action takes place“, these.
According to the executive director, the decision could hinder cooperation between the institutions of the two countries and that the problem here in Brazil will not be resolved.
The FBSP, however, said that the US and Brazil have a long tradition of police cooperation. “They have acted in a coordinated manner over the decades, with emphasis on exchanging intelligence information to combat money laundering, which must continue.”
United States decision
The United States Department of State classified this Thursday (28) the Brazilian factions Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) as terrorist organizations, effective from June 5, 2026.
According to the American government, the groups will be designated as “specially designated global terrorists” (“Specially Designated Global Terrorists” in translation, or SDGTs) and also as “foreign terrorist organizations” (“Foreign Terrorist Organizations”, ou FTOs).
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio – who signed the statement -, confirmed the information in a post on their account on the social network X (formerly Twitter). “The Trump administration will continue to use every tool available to protect our nation and our national security interests by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue stream that funds violent narco-terrorists,” he wrote.
Specially Designated Global Terrorists
The authority to classify groups and individuals as is conferred by Executive Order number 13,244, of September 23, 2001. The standard was established by former US president George W. Bush after the 9/11 attacks.
The classification is done jointly by the departments of State and Treasury. According to the understanding of the Foreign Assets Control Agency (Ofac, its acronym in English), linked to the North American financial body, groups with the framework have committed or pose a risk of committing acts of terrorism. Organizations or individuals that provide support, services or assistance may also receive the designation.
Foreign Terrorist Organizations
In accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, the State Department is responsible for classifying groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. Monitoring of organizations is the responsibility of the agency’s Office of Counterterrorism and Combating Violent Extremism.
For a group be classified with the classificationit needs:
- Being a foreigner;
- Be involved in activity considered terrorist under US law;
- Your actions threaten or pose a risk to the citizens and national security of the United States.
