Lula Condemns U.S. Terror Label for Brazil Gangs PCC and Red Command

The United States designated Brazil’s two biggest criminal groups, the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) and the Red Command (CV), as foreign terrorist organizations, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saying they would be considered foreign terrorist organizations as of June 5.

“The president of Brazil, left-wing leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, has denounced a decision by the United States to designate two of the South American country’s criminal networks as “terrorists”, warning that the label could be a “setback” for local law enforcement efforts”

Al Jazeera

Rubio’s announcement came after a visit by Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, a presidential hopeful and son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, and it followed Rubio’s statement that until then the groups would be named as specially designated global terrorists.

Al Jazeera

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the move as interference in Brazil’s affairs, saying, "We will not accept being treated like children," after Rubio announced the designation on Thursday.

Lula also warned the U.S. decision could affect Brazil’s economy and sovereignty, while the U.S. action was framed by Rubio as part of a commitment to dismantling cartels and criminal organizations in the region.

At an event in the country’s northeast, Lula said, "We will not accept being treated as if we were some tinpot republic," and he accused the Trump administration of treating Brazil as subordinate after the terrorist label was announced.

Lula’s criticism was echoed in the Guardian’s account of his reaction, quoting him saying, "We do not accept being treated like little boys."

Anadolu Ajansı

In response, Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro celebrated the designation, telling reporters, "Lula was on his knees to Trump to lobby for CV and PCC, and I was there to work so they can be treated as terrorists, which is what they are," as the political fight heads toward October’s election.

The dispute is also tied to the U.S.-Brazil relationship on crime policy, with the Guardian noting that Rubio’s announcement was not mentioned during Trump’s meeting with Lula at the White House three weeks ago.

Brazil’s government warned that unilateral measures could undermine cooperation against organized crime, with the presidency saying, "Unilateral measures without negotiation can weaken the fight against crime ... They can hurt the ability to share information between police."

“Brazil's government on Friday criticized a U”

Daily Sabah

The Al Jazeera account also described Lula’s concern that the label could be used as a pretext to undermine sovereignty or the economy, quoting his message: "we will not tolerate the imposition of arbitrary measures from abroad".

The U.S. designation also carries immediate financial implications because the groups are treated as threats to U.S. citizens, with Rubio’s announcement stating that until June 5 they would be named as specially designated global terrorists, which "hamper their ability to make financial transactions".

With Brazil’s presidential election in October and the terrorist label framed as a wedge issue, the Guardian reported that Flávio Bolsonaro’s campaign was boosted by the designation while Lula said the U.S. secretary from North America claimed "our criminals here are terrorists and that Americans can intervene" during a speech in Sergipe.