Rubio declares terrorist classification for Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles

U.S. Designates Venezuelan Cartel as Foreign Terrorist Organization

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Sunday that the Cartel de los Soles, a significant criminal group associated with Venezuela’s leadership, will be designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

This seems to signal a tougher approach from Washington toward the Venezuelan government and might possibly lead to military actions against the Maduro regime.

Rubio confirmed that the formal designation would take place later this month, with an effective date of November 24. This action targets a network believed to be orchestrated by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and top officials in his government.

The State Department provided some context, stating that “The Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles is led by Nicolás Maduro and other senior members of the illegitimate Maduro regime, who have corrupted institutions such as Venezuela’s military and judiciary.” They further emphasized that neither Maduro nor his associates represent Venezuela’s legitimate government.

Additionally, the cartel is accused of being responsible for terrorist violence across the region and conducting drug trafficking operations to the U.S. and Europe, often in partnership with other illicit groups.

The upcoming designation is based on Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which empowers the State Department to label foreign entities involved in terrorist activities. This designation will be official once published in the Federal Register. Notably, the Cartel de los Soles has already been targeted by previous sanctions from the U.S. Treasury.

Rubio, in a post on X, stated that the State Department’s initiative to designate the cartel stems from its role in corrupting Venezuelan institutions and its coordination in drug trafficking and violence.

President Trump has reiterated that the U.S. is committed to stopping the flow of drugs into the country. He urged Congress to support measures against drug traffickers and emphasized that efforts would focus on preventing drug passage through both Mexico and Venezuela.

In his remarks, Trump mentioned potential discussions with President Maduro regarding how this new designation might enable the U.S. to target Maduro’s assets, though he noted uncertainty about where such talks might lead.