US Escalates Stance Against Venezuela: Cartel de los Soles Designated as Foreign Terrorist Organization
In a significant policy shift that signals a tougher approach toward Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Cartel de los Soles, a criminal network deeply embedded within Venezuela’s leadership, will be designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) effective November 24. This decisive action targets what American officials describe as a narcoterrorist organization allegedly headed by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro himself, along with other high-ranking officials within his regime. The designation represents more than a symbolic gesture—it potentially opens the door for increased American intervention in Venezuela and marks a clear escalation in the Trump administration’s stance toward the Maduro government, which the United States has refused to recognize as legitimate since 2019.
The State Department’s statement clarifies the rationale behind this consequential decision, pointing to the cartel’s collaboration with other notorious criminal organizations including Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel. Together, these groups have been implicated in widespread violence throughout the Western Hemisphere and significant drug trafficking operations targeting both the United States and Europe. By invoking Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the designation grants the U.S. government expanded authorities to combat the organization through various means, including potentially freezing assets, imposing travel bans, and pursuing criminal charges against members and associates of the cartel. This represents an escalation from previous measures, as the Cartel de los Soles had already been sanctioned by the Treasury Department under counterterrorism authorities.
President Trump himself has emphasized the administration’s commitment to addressing the flow of narcotics into the United States, framing this decision as part of a broader effort to combat drug trafficking. “We’re stopping drug dealers and drugs from coming into our country,” Trump told reporters, specifically mentioning both Mexico and Venezuela as sources of concern. When questioned about whether this designation would allow the United States to target Maduro’s assets or infrastructure directly, Trump’s affirmative response—”It allows us to do that”—suggests potential military or covert actions may be under consideration. The implications of such a possibility are profound, as it could represent a significant shift toward more direct confrontation with the Venezuelan regime.
Intriguingly, despite the harsh rhetoric and designation, Trump also hinted at possible diplomatic engagement with Maduro. “We may be having some discussions with Maduro, and we’ll see how that turns out. They would like to talk,” the president remarked, adding, “We’ll see what happens.” This apparent contradiction—designating Maduro as essentially the leader of a terrorist organization while simultaneously suggesting potential negotiations—reflects the complex and sometimes unpredictable nature of Trump’s foreign policy approach. It may also indicate a strategic attempt to apply maximum pressure while keeping diplomatic channels open, a tactic the administration has employed in other international confrontations.
The timing of this announcement follows recent U.S. military actions against cartel vessels off Venezuela’s coast, which Secretary Rubio had characterized as a warning that there would be “no sanctuary” for drug traffickers. These strikes, authorized under what the administration has described as an “armed conflict” with terrorist drug cartels, demonstrate the increasing willingness of the United States to use force in its counter-narcotics operations. The formal FTO designation of Cartel de los Soles adds another layer of legal justification for such actions, potentially paving the way for more aggressive measures against Venezuela’s government officials whom the U.S. considers to be cartel leaders. This approach represents a significant departure from traditional drug interdiction strategies and blurs the line between counterterrorism and counter-narcotics operations.
The broader geopolitical implications of this designation cannot be overstated. By formally linking Venezuela’s leadership to terrorism and drug trafficking through an FTO designation, the United States has effectively positioned itself to justify a range of potential actions that might otherwise face greater international scrutiny or legal challenges. For Venezuela and its allies, this move will likely be viewed as a provocative escalation and possibly as groundwork for regime change efforts. For countries in the region already dealing with the spillover effects of Venezuela’s economic and humanitarian crisis, including the massive refugee exodus, this development adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile situation. As the November 24 implementation date approaches, the international community will be watching closely to see how this designation translates into concrete actions and how Venezuela and its allies respond to this significant shift in U.S. policy.
