The United States has officially designated the ‘Cartel de los Soles’ as a foreign terrorist organization, implementing new sanctions against the group. US officials allege that Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro and high-ranking government members are part of this cartel, accused of facilitating drug trafficking into the United States. Venezuela has vehemently rejected the designation, labeling it a “ridiculous” and “fabricated” attempt to justify “illegal intervention.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the decision, citing the group’s alleged involvement in drug smuggling. This move coincides with a significant US military buildup in the Caribbean, raising concerns about potential military action, though legal experts emphasize that the designation alone does not permit military operations. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil accused the US of reviving “an infamous and vile lie” to achieve regime change and control Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, asserting that past aggressions have failed and this new maneuver will too.
Earlier this year, the US Treasury Department had already sanctioned the group, then known as ‘Cartel of the Suns’, freezing assets and prohibiting American transactions. The name ‘Cartel de los Soles’ derives from the sun insignia worn by Venezuelan generals, hinting at the alleged involvement of high-ranking military officials within the purported organization.