BRASILIA, July 7, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Brazil's foreign minister warned of an increased risk of US military action within the country after Washington designated two major criminal gangs as terrorist organizations, according to a letter to Congress seen by AFP on Monday.

In late May, the US made the designations against the so-called Red Command (CV) and First Capital Command (PCC), drawing the ire of left-leaning Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government during an election year.

The letter, sent by Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira last Wednesday, said the "unilateral classification could be invoked as justification for extraterritorial actions targeting Brazilian institutions, particularly in the financial, migration, and criminal spheres."

"There is, moreover, the risk of the use of US military force against national territory," he added.

In making the designations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described CV and PCC as "two of the most violent criminal organizations in Brazil," warning that their "influence and illicit networks extend far beyond Brazil's borders, across our region and into our country."

In Brazil, the right-wing opposition welcomed Washington's decision, accusing the government of being soft on crime ahead of the presidential election scheduled for October.

During US President Donald Trump's second term, Washington has expanded terrorist designations to include drug-trafficking organizations.

It has also carried out deadly strikes against some of those organizations, including Tren de Aragua in Venezuela and boats it alleges are trafficking drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific, despite not providing evidence.

The two countries are also at odds over tariffs: the Trump administration must decide by July 15 whether to apply 25 percent duties for various Brazilian products, following an investigation into allegedly unfair trade practices -- accusations rejected by the Brazilian government.