The Trump administration is taking a major step to confront the growing threat posed by Venezuela’s corrupt regime, officially designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. The move, published Monday in the Federal Register, expands the administration’s ability to target the criminal network’s assets and activities.
The Cartel de los Soles—Spanish for “Cartel of the Suns”—is a shadowy but well-documented alliance of Venezuelan military and government officials long implicated in large-scale drug trafficking. The organization has played a key role in propping up socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, whose regime has driven Venezuela into economic collapse and humanitarian crisis.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio underscored the seriousness of the threat, stating last week that Cartel de los Soles and other cartels in Venezuela were “responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe.” Republican leaders have warned for years that the Maduro regime is intertwined with transnational criminal groups and hostile foreign powers, including Iran, Russia, and Cuba.
The new designation strengthens the White House’s hand in imposing sanctions, disrupting illicit financial networks, and pressuring Maduro’s inner circle. It comes amid a broader U.S. effort to counter the destabilizing influence of Venezuela’s narco-state. American military assets have recently been repositioned closer to the region as part of enhanced monitoring and interdiction operations.
President Trump has consistently kept all options on the table. While he has not ruled out using U.S. military force or deploying troops to Venezuela, he has also suggested the possibility of direct talks with Maduro—an approach designed to keep diplomatic pressure flexible while maintaining a firm stance against the regime’s criminal activities.
The administration’s latest action reflects a continued commitment to confronting hostile foreign actors, securing America’s borders from narcotics trafficking, and supporting the Venezuelan people against an authoritarian government entrenched in terrorism and cartel violence.
This article originally appeared on Official Trump Tracker. It is republished with permission.
READ NEXT: Inside Trump’s Endgame With Maduro
Mad man madero is a loser and does not look happy being internationally outted. But for the drugs he is selling he deserves what he gets. Taking him down despite the moron dimwits opposing Trump like Schmucky is a great agenda for our navy and corps. Thank you for your service men of our armies and thank you Trump for targeting this nasty character.