Brazil Warns of US Military Risk over Gang Terror Listing

In an official response to the Chamber of Deputies, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira warned of the consequences of the United States’ decision to designate the domestic criminal gangs PCC (Primeiro Comando da Capital) and CV (Comando Vermelho) as foreign terrorist organizations, CNN Brasil reported.

According to CNN, the document highlights serious risks for Brazilian citizens in financial, immigration and criminal matters and does not rule out the possibility of unilateral US military action on Brazilian territory. The ministry said the measure would bring no concrete benefits to international cooperation, arguing that the gangs’ existing designation as transnational criminal organizations already allowed for information sharing and other measures against organized crime.

The US designation of the groups as foreign terrorist organizations took effect on 5 June. An earlier order designating them as specially designated global terrorists was signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in May. Washington said the measure was aimed at cutting off funding to “violent narco-terrorists”, whose activities, according to the US, extend onto American territory.

The US Department of the Treasury later imposed sanctions on two Brazilian citizens and three companies over alleged links to the PCC.

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