Brazil wary as Latin American nations back US plan against PCC and Comando Vermelho

The Brazilian government of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is analyzing the consequences of Latin American countries joining a US-led initiative to sanction Brazilian gangs PCC and Comando Vermelho, a move it considers difficult to reverse. Fourteen countries, including Argentina, Chile, and Colombia, signed the "Joint Declaration on the Defense of Hemispheric Sovereignty" at a UN meeting, agreeing to freeze assets and impose visa restrictions. The Brazilian government was unaware of the declaration's terms and views the US-backed, militarized approach to security as dangerous, particularly regarding critical minerals and infrastructure. Officials interpret the initiative as a US strategy to counter Chinese influence in the region, potentially leading to long-term diplomatic debates within the Organization of American States.