United States removes Colombian group from list of foreign terrorist groups

The Department of State has officially removed a Colombian group from the US list of foreign terrorist groups.

In an effort to show support for a 2015 peace agreement between the Colombian government and FARC, the Biden administration has taken steps towards removing FARC from its list of foreign terrorist groups. On Tuesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the administration had informed Congress of its plan to remove the group from the list.

Antony J. Blinken Secretary of State said in a statement that FARC has “formally dissolved and disarmed” and “no longer exists as a unified organization that engages in terrorism or terrorist activity or has the capability or intent to do so.”

Some in the Colombian government do not approve the move, seeing it as US recognition of the group no longer being involved in violence or scheming to overthrow the government.

Several notable Republicans have criticized the move. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) tweeted, “Once again, Biden chooses appeasement & proves he doesn’t care about the security & stability of Latin America.”

Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) remarked that the “organization of Marxist-Leninist narco-terrorists […] have killed, kidnapped, and extorted Colombians. They have murdered and seized American citizens. They continue to pose an acute threat to Colombian security and to American interests across the region. Removing FARC from the list of terrorism organizations will embolden them to widen their violence and interfere with civilian activities.”

FARC, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, formed in 1964. For 50 years, it was at odds with the Colombian government, with hopes of overthrowing it and taking over. More than 260,000 people died at the hands of the group, as they committed kidnappings and executions for decades.