U.S. Designates Venezuela's 'Cartel de los Soles' as a Foreign Terrorist Organization

The U.S. administration is proceeding with the designation of Venezuela's "Cartel de los Soles" as a foreign terrorist organization. This action represents an extension of existing measures aimed at combating drug trafficking into the United States.Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State, previously stated that the Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, is "responsible for terrorist violence" in the Western Hemisphere. This move occurs while the U.S. President evaluates potential military actions against Venezuela, a possibility not excluded, despite discussions about engaging with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. has engaged in a months-long operation, including a military presence in the Caribbean Sea and interdiction of boats suspected of drug trafficking.### Understanding the "Cartel de los Soles"The term "Cartel de los Soles" emerged in Venezuela during the 1990s, referring to high-ranking military officers implicated in drug trafficking. Over time, its use broadened to include police and government officials, and activities such as illegal mining and fuel trafficking, as corruption expanded under former President Hugo Chávez and subsequently President Maduro. The name refers to the sun insignia on senior military uniforms.In 2020, the U.S. Justice Department elevated the term to describe a Maduro-led drug-trafficking organization, announcing an indictment against Venezuela's leader and his associates on narcoterrorism and other charges.Adam Isaacson, director for defense oversight at the Washington Office on Latin America, noted that it is not a traditional group with identified members, regular meetings, or a defined hierarchy.### Expansion of Terrorist DesignationsPrior to this year, the foreign terrorist organization label was primarily applied to groups employing violence for political objectives, such as the Islamic State or al-Qaida. In February, the U.S. administration applied this designation to eight Latin American criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and other illicit activities.The administration attributes these designated groups with operating vessels targeted in interdiction efforts, although specific organizations and supporting evidence have not always been publicly identified. These operations, initiated off Venezuela's coast and later extended to the eastern Pacific Ocean, are stated to prevent narcotics from reaching American cities.### Political Context and ImplicationsSome observers, including President Maduro, interpret the military actions as an attempt to destabilize the ruling party in Venezuela. Venezuela's U.S.-backed political opposition has reiterated its objective of removing Maduro from office, leading to speculation regarding the broader purpose of what the Trump administration has characterized as a counterdrug operation.The U.S., like the previous administration, does not recognize Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president. Maduro began a third term after the 2024 presidential election, a result disputed by opposition claims and reports of irregularities. Accusations of human rights violations against government opponents have been made against Maduro and senior officials.U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the designation of Cartel de los Soles would provide "new options" for the U.S. in its approach to Maduro, without specifying details or confirming potential land strikes within Venezuela. Administration officials have communicated an assessment that Maduro's governance is "not sustainable," with reports indicating increasing concern among high-level Venezuelan officials due to ongoing U.S. operations. Requests from Maduro and his associates for direct engagement with the U.S. administration have been reported through intermediaries, but no official communication channels have been authorized.### Indictments and AllegationsThe 2020 indictment alleged that Maduro, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López conspired with Colombian rebels and Venezuelan military elements for several years to traffic cocaine into the United States. Colombia is the world's leading cocaine producer.The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), before a 2016 peace agreement, reportedly utilized the Venezuela-Colombia border region as a safe haven and transit point for U.S.-bound cocaine, allegedly with the knowledge or support of Venezuelan security forces. Dissident factions and the National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group continued involvement in this trade.Maduro has denied these charges. The U.S. Justice Department has increased the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million.Maduro has consistently asserted that the U.S. is constructing a fabricated drug-trafficking narrative to justify attempts to remove him from power. He and other Venezuelan officials cite a United Nations report which, they state, indicates that only 5% of Colombian-produced cocaine transits through Venezuela.In July, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on the Cartel de los Soles, alleging that Maduro and his allies utilized Venezuelan government, military, and intelligence services to facilitate narcotics trafficking to the U.S. U.S. authorities have also alleged that Maduro's cartel provided material support to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa cartel, both previously designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. in February.