The Brazilian government warned that the US designation of two major criminal organizations in the country as terrorist groups has increased the risk of military intervention by Washington. Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira said in a message to parliament that this step could be used to legitimize cross-border operations against Brazilian institutions.
Vieira said, 'There is a risk of the US using military force against national territory.' Leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva also opposed the classification, arguing that it gives the US the right to intervene against the leaders of these groups anywhere in the world.
The US government announced last May that it had designated the groups 'Primeiro Comando da Capital' and 'Comando Vermelho' as terrorist organizations. Washington stated that these groups have illegal networks extending far beyond Brazil's borders.
These two organizations, which are particularly involved in drug trafficking and operate in Brazil's poor neighborhoods, are among the country's most powerful criminal groups.
Since Donald Trump's return to the White House in 2025, the US administration has also begun designating various criminal groups in other countries as terrorist organizations. These include the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico and the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela.
The US previously carried out lethal attacks against Tren de Aragua in Venezuela, and in the Caribbean and Pacific, it struck boats it claimed belonged to drug traffickers with lethal force without providing evidence.
In Brazil, the right-wing opposition welcomed Washington's decision, accusing the government of laxity as the presidential elections planned for October approach.
