Planalto stated that he “will not accept the use of arbitrary measures from abroad”, and criticized the Bolsonaro family: “Traitors”
The Brazilian government released this Friday (May 29, 2026) a note in response to the United States’ decision to classify the PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) and the CV (Comando Vermelho) as terrorist organizations. In the text, Planalto states that “national sovereignty is non-negotiable”. The document also criticized members of the Bolsonaro family, whom it called “traitors” accused of traveling to the United States to “defending foreign intervention in Brazil”. Issue a (352 – kB).
In the text, the government also said that “will not accept the use of arbitrary measures from abroad as a pretext to attack our sovereignty and our economy”. The note recognizes that the two factions “they practice terrorism in the territories where millions of families live”but argues that their motivations are economic —linked to drug and weapons trafficking—, which would differentiate them from international terrorism of an ideological, political or religious nature.
For the government, the American classification could weaken the fight against crime, reduce information sharing between police and affect the Brazilian financial system. The note also states that Planalto presented to the American State Department, in April, a cooperation proposal focused on intelligence, money laundering control and arms trafficking, and reaffirmed its willingness to “build joint solutions” —as long as there are no unilateral measures.
Read the full Brazilian government statement:
Press release
“Published on 05/29/2026 12:32 pm Updated on 05/29/2026 12:33 pm.
“Brazil is a sovereign nation that has been in permanent combat against the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), the Comando Vermelho (CV) and other factions and militias that practice terrorism in the territories where millions of families live. Confronting these criminal organizations firmly is, and will continue to be, a priority for the Brazilian State.
“The terror caused by these organizations in communities seeks to obtain profit through crime, especially through drug and weapons trafficking, and cannot be confused with the type of action for ideological, political and religious reasons of international terrorism.
“The security of our population is too important to be politically manipulated by traitors who try to confuse these concepts. By false patriots, involved with organized crime, who ask foreign authorities to interfere in Brazilian affairs.
“It is deplorable that once again members of the Bolsonaro family travel to the United States to defend foreign intervention in Brazil, as they already did in the tariff, which caused so much damage to our country.
“We recently approved a law to combat factions and militias with penalties of up to 80 years in prison – the longest provided for in all Brazilian legislation. The Brazilian government runs the ‘Brazil against Organized Crime’ program, which combats factions and militias from its armed wing on street corners to its upstairs.
“Organized crime does not respect borders and its fight requires joint action. We have built, over decades, partnerships with several countries, including the United States. On April 16 of this year, Brazil presented to the US Department of State a proposal focused on intelligence and international cooperation that includes expanding controls on money laundering carried out abroad and on arms trafficking sent to Brazil.
“Any international collaboration to combat factions will be welcome. We remain willing to build joint solutions beneficial to the countries involved. But we will not accept the use of arbitrary measures from abroad as a pretext to attack our sovereignty and our economy.
“Unilateral, non-negotiated measures can weaken the fight against criminals and generate actions that put the lives of people who have nothing to do with crime at risk. They can reduce the ability to share information between the police. They can affect our financial system and national innovations like Pix, which bother foreign interests.
“In short, this is a possible setback in the fight against crime, a risk to people’s lives and economic losses to the country.
“National sovereignty is non-negotiable. Brazil rejects any form of external interference in its internal affairs. Those who define how crime is classified and fought within Brazil are Brazilians, with their institutions, their laws and their security forces.
“Government of Brazil.”
