Brazil debates sovereignty after US labels PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorist groups

The United States recently classified Brazil's criminal factions PCC and Comando Vermelho as terrorist organizations. Brazilian commentators argue that this external label does not threaten national sovereignty; instead, they point to the growing territorial control these groups exert over parts of the country. Data from a 2025 poll shows 19 % of Brazilians live in areas dominated by criminal gangs, up from 14 % in 2024, highlighting a domestic challenge to state authority. One opinion piece stresses that sovereignty should be understood as belonging primarily to individuals rather than the state apparatus, warning that extensive reliance on state welfare may erode civic autonomy. Another argues that the real risk to Brazil’s sovereignty lies in the inability of state forces to assert monopoly over legitimate use of force in gang‑controlled zones, not in the US designation itself. Both analyses call for renewed focus on internal security and civic engagement to preserve Brazil’s sovereign integrity.