On Monday, Brazil's Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira held discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in an effort to thwart the designation of Brazilian criminal gangs, such as PCC and Comando Vermelho, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) by the United States. This concern arises from the potential implications such a designation could have, not only for the criminal organizations but also for Brazil's international relations and the handling of crime domestically.

The criteria for an organization to be classified as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. include being a foreign organization, engaging in terrorist activities or possessing the capability and intent to do so, and posing a threat to U.S. citizens' security or the national security interests of the United States, which encompass defense, foreign relations, and economic interests. The classification process also involves compiling a comprehensive dossier using both open and classified sources to ensure compliance with the legal benchmarks.

The potential designation of Brazilian gangs as FTOs raises questions about the security implications for Brazil as well as its diplomatic ties with the U.S. Such a classification could impact Brazil's efforts to combat organized crime and could affect the nuanced approaches within its own security strategy. The Lula administration's push against such a label is indicative of broader concerns regarding sovereignty, crime management, and foreign diplomacy.