The United States decided on Thursday (28/05) to classify the Red Command (CV) and the First Capital Command (PCC) as terrorist organizations. The measure is scheduled to take effect on June 5. The decision comes after a visit by Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PL), a presidential pre-candidate, to President Donald Trump and senior members of the U.S. administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. In recent months, the Trump administration has reviewed its definitions of narcoterrorism and intensified operations abroad, particularly in Latin America, against organizations classified under that category.
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Celebration
In an interview with journalists, Flávio Bolsonaro said that Marco Rubio appeared favorable to the designation during a meeting that lasted approximately 30 minutes. Following the announcement by the U.S. government, the senator celebrated the decision on social media, describing it as a “great day.” During his visit to the United States, Flávio was asked whether the classification of the factions as terrorist organizations could increase the risk of U.S. intervention on Brazilian soil. He rejected that possibility and stated that he did not view the measure as a military threat to Brazil.
Expected Decision
The announcement had been widely anticipated. A report published by UOL in early March indicated that the decision had already been made internally within the U.S. government. According to a report by The New York Times, also published in March, American authorities were considering the designation following lobbying efforts by two sons of former president Jair Bolsonaro, including Flávio Bolsonaro and former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro.
Attempts to Prevent the Measure
Despite the growing expectation surrounding the decision, the government of President Lula (PT) reportedly sought to prevent the designation, fearing that it could influence Brazil’s electoral process and increase U.S. involvement in domestic affairs. In the Lula administration’s view, the designation could create a legal opening for potential U.S. interventions on Brazilian territory. Government officials also fear that the issue could be politically exploited by Bolsonaro allies during the election campaign. Lula stated that the matter was not discussed during his more than three-hour meeting with Donald Trump roughly 20 days earlier, although a broader proposal for cooperation between the two countries was presented during the conversation.
“Dark Horse” Case
The designation comes at a particularly difficult moment for Flávio Bolsonaro’s presidential campaign. The senator has faced growing political pressure following revelations by The Intercept Brasil that he requested financial support from former banker Daniel Vorcaro to fund the film “Dark Horse,” centered on his father’s political trajectory. The controversy deepened after reports emerged that Flávio personally met with Vorcaro while the businessman was already subject to court-imposed restrictions and wearing an electronic ankle monitor.
What Could Happen
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, organizations may be classified as terrorist groups when they meet specific criteria, including the use of violence and the existence of a threat to American interests or security. Before the formal designation, U.S. authorities had already described both the PCC and CV as dangers to regional stability. Once classified, any form of support for these organizations becomes a criminal offense under U.S. law, while financial assets linked to the groups can be frozen and monitored. Members of the organizations may also be barred from entering the United States or expelled if already present in the country. American financial institutions are required to block and report funds connected to designated groups. Brazil, however, does not adopt the same legal definition, as Brazilian legislation reserves the classification of terrorism for violent acts motivated by xenophobia, discrimination, or prejudice intended to generate widespread social terror.
Analysis:
The U.S. decision to classify the PCC and the Red Command as terrorist organizations represents a significant shift in how Brazilian criminal groups are perceived internationally. Traditionally, both factions have been treated primarily as transnational organized crime networks focused on drug trafficking, money laundering, arms smuggling, and territorial control. By applying a terrorism designation, Washington is signaling that these organizations are no longer viewed solely as criminal enterprises but as actors capable of threatening regional stability and broader security interests.
Although concerns about direct foreign intervention are often politically charged, the debate is not entirely theoretical. In recent years, the United States has increasingly used terrorism and narcoterrorism classifications as instruments to justify broader sanctions, international operations, and pressure against actors considered threats to its security interests. A frequently cited example is the case involving Venezuela, where U.S. authorities associated the Cartel de los Soles with the government of Nicolás Maduro and used terrorism-related sanctions and designations as part of a broader strategy of political and economic pressure against the Venezuelan government.
