U.S. Designates Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as Maduro Terror Group

In a significant move, the U.S. government has officially designated Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. This action intensifies the existing pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s administration, which has faced accusations of drug trafficking and human rights violations.

Background on the Cartel de los Soles

The term “Cartel de los Soles,” which translates to “Cartel of the Suns,” dates back to the 1990s. Initially, it referred to high-ranking military officials profiting from drug trafficking. Over time, this term expanded to include various government and police officials involved in corrupt practices, such as illegal mining and fuel trafficking.

The “suns” in the name signify the insignia worn by senior military officers. In 2020, the U.S. Justice Department labeled the entity as a narcoterrorism organization tied to Maduro, implementing sanctions against him and his close associates.

U.S. Actions and Reactions

This designation, released on November 21, is part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to combat the influx of narcotics into the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly attributed terrorism and related violence in the Western Hemisphere to the Cartel de los Soles.

In March 2020, the U.S. announced an indictment against Maduro, accusing him of “flooding” American streets with cocaine in collaboration with Colombian rebels. The U.S. also recently doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture to $50 million.

The Implications of the Designation

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that this designation creates “new options” for dealing with Maduro’s regime, though he refrained from discussing specific military plans. There is growing concern within the U.S. administration that Maduro’s leadership may become increasingly untenable.

While the U.S. has intensified military operations in the Caribbean to disrupt drug trafficking, critics, including Maduro, assert that these actions are primarily aimed at destabilizing his government.

International and Domestic Reactions

• Maduro’s government strongly refuted the existence of the Cartel de los Soles, labeling U.S. claims as “ridiculous fabrications.”
• Critics argue that the terrorist designation’s criteria, historically applied to groups like ISIS and al-Qaida, are being misused against Latin American criminal organizations.
• Local and international observers express concern about human rights abuses and the suppression of political dissent under Maduro’s administration.

As the international community closely monitors these developments, the future of Venezuela’s political landscape remains uncertain. The U.S. administration’s next steps and their impact on Maduro’s regime are yet to unfold.