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"The decision by the United States to classify the Brazilian criminal groups Comando Vermelho and Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) as foreign terrorist organisations has raised concerns among specialists, as they warn it will have economic and political consequences for Brazil. Speaking from Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation Thiago Bottino, said the classification affects the country's public image for foreign investments. "Now the whole world distrusts Brazil. The whole world will be more cautious when doing business with any Brazilian company, as it has been designated as a place where terrorism exists. This implies exporting terror and violence to the entire world. And that is not true, it never was," he stated. According to the professor, the classification made by the United States "serves the political interests of certain people," as there is a clear difference between organised crime and terrorism. While the former responds to illegal activities for profit, the latter seeks to generate terror for political or ideological reasons. "Terrorism has an ideological connotation, it can be political or religious. Organised crime, on the other hand, seeks profit," he explained. According to Bottino, criminal factions in Brazil operate through the control of territories, arms and drug trafficking, as well as extortion. The professor also criticised the political use of the issue, pointing out that some people or groups may take advantage of the situation to promote or support US measures against Brazil, with the aim of electoral benefits. "From a political point of view, the problem arises when someone seeks electoral advantages in exchange for putting the country in the worst possible situation. I think that is, in a way, the strategy <…> It is unimaginable that someone would harm a nation for electoral or personal benefit," he expressed. Regarding the security field, Bottino indicated that the designation could alter international cooperation mechanisms against drug trafficking. "We will no longer have the cooperation of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency [DEA], as it is now a CIA problem," he added. In addition, Bottino warned of a negative impact on the economy and politics, due to possible investor confidence and the use of the issue in the run-up to the 2026 presidential elections. "From a legal point of view, we lose economically. We lose with possible future sanctions and with a certain discouragement of investment at this time. And from a political point of view, we lose because this creates a great smokescreen so that we don't have to talk about criminal issues," he pointed out. Although the president of Brazil, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, condemned the designation of Comando Vermelho and PCC as terrorists, the most violent groups in the country, he reiterated that he will maintain international cooperation in security and combating drug trafficking."
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