The Venezuelan government on Monday firmly rejected what it described as a “ridiculous” U.S. plan to classify the so-called Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization, ahead of an expected announcement from Washington later in the day. Venezuelan officials insist the group does not exist and dismissed the move as part of a broader effort to undermine President Nicolas Maduro’s government, Reuters reported.
Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that the United States would designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) due to its alleged involvement in trafficking illegal drugs into the country. The Trump administration has accused Maduro and high-ranking Venezuelan officials of leading the cartel, allegations that Maduro and his government have repeatedly denied. The designation comes amid heightened U.S. military activity in the Caribbean and growing pressure on Maduro, though sanctions experts note that the law does not permit the FTO label to serve as a direct justification for military action.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil took to Telegram to denounce the designation, saying, “Venezuela categorically, firmly, and absolutely rejects the new and ridiculous fabrication by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, Marco Rubio, which designates the non-existent Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization.” Gil characterized the move as “an infamous and vile lie” intended to legitimize an “illegitimate and illegal intervention” in the country and vowed that it would fail like previous U.S. efforts.
The measure follows an earlier July action by the U.S. Treasury Department, which labeled the cartel a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist,” freezing any U.S. assets and generally prohibiting Americans from interacting with the group. Analysts, including the crime research organization InSight Crime, caution that it is an oversimplification to claim Maduro heads the cartel, describing it instead as a network of corruption in which military and political officials profit from cooperation with drug traffickers. Reuters also reported that Washington is planning additional Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, although details regarding timing and scope remain unclear.
