U.S. Designates Venezuela's 'Cartel de los Soles' as Terrorist Group, Escalating Pressure on Maduro

The U.S. officially designated Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles, a network of government and military officials, as a foreign terrorist organization, alleging its deep involvement in drug trafficking.

This move by the Trump administration aims to intensify pressure on President Nicolás Maduro, whom the U.S. does not recognize as Venezuela's legitimate leader, citing controversial election results.

The U.S. has significantly escalated anti-drug operations in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, conducting numerous sea strikes and considering land strikes to intercept cocaine shipments.

In 2020, the U.S. indicted President Maduro and several associates for leading a drug-trafficking organization linked to narcoterrorism, offering a $50 million reward for his arrest.

Maduro consistently denies all U.S. charges, claiming the drug-trafficking narrative is a fabrication designed to orchestrate his removal from power, amidst a notable U.S. military presence.