The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to announce the classification of the Brazilian factions Comando Vermelho (CV) and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) as foreign terrorist organizations. The decision could be formalized in the coming days by the US State Department.
The information was revealed by columnist Mariana Sanches, from UOL, and confirmed to the report by different sources linked to or close to the United States government. According to the investigation, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira was informed in Washington about the progress of the proposal and has been trying to establish contact with Secretary of State Marco Rubio since Saturday (7). Until the publication of the report, there was no confirmation that the dialogue between the two diplomats had taken place.
If the designation is formalized, the groups will be added to the list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). This classification entails a series of automatic sanctions by the United States government.
Among the main consequences is the freezing of assets belonging to members of organizations under U.S. jurisdiction, as well as the exclusion of these groups from the country’s financial system. The measure also prohibits U.S. citizens or entities from providing any type of “material support,” including weapons or financial resources.
The classification as a terrorist organization still imposes immigration restrictions on people associated with the factions and increases legal risks for companies operating in regions where these groups operate. Companies may be subject to sanctions from the Treasury Department through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
According to the report, OFAC has already issued warnings to companies about the increased risk of doing business in countries where cartels classified as terrorist are present, as is the case in Mexico.
The issue also has implications for the debate on regional security. The President of the United States has publicly mentioned the possibility of military strikes against cartels in Mexican territory, although experts point to legal disagreements as to whether designation as a terrorist organization would provide sufficient legal basis for this type of action.
Within the U.S. government, discussions about classifying criminal factions as terrorist organizations have been ongoing for months among various officials. Those involved include the Under Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Christopher Landau; the Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, Darren Beattie; and the Senior Advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Ricardo Pita.
The initiative also has the support of Sarah Carter, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, who was confirmed by Congress in January as responsible for the Trump administration’s anti-drug policy.
Source: brasil247.com