In a move that signals a dramatic escalation in U.S.-Venezuela relations, the U.S. State Department has officially designated the Venezuelan criminal network Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), effective November 24, 2025. The announcement, made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, marks the first time a Latin American cartel allegedly led by a sitting head of state—President Nicolás Maduro—has received such a designation.
“Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government,” the State Department declared in a press release. The statement accuses the Cartel de los Soles of operating in tandem with other notorious criminal syndicates, including the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua, to orchestrate “terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere” and to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics into the United States and Europe.
A Cartel at the Heart of Power
The Cartel de los Soles—translated as the “Cartel of the Suns,” a reference to the sun insignia worn by Venezuelan military generals—has long been suspected of operating within the upper echelons of Venezuela’s military and political elite. The U.S. government alleges that the cartel is not merely a criminal enterprise but a state-embedded apparatus of narco-terrorism, with President Maduro himself at the helm.
According to the State Department, the cartel has corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence services, judiciary, and legislature, turning the country into what some analysts now describe as a “narco-state.” This designation formalizes years of mounting evidence and intelligence assessments that have linked the Maduro regime to drug trafficking and transnational organized crime.
Strategic Timing and Regional Implications
The timing of the designation is no coincidence. It comes amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas, exacerbated by the recent deployment of the U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean. The move is widely interpreted as a show of force and a signal of Washington’s readiness to confront what it sees as a growing threat to regional stability.
The designation also grants the U.S. government expanded legal authority to freeze assets, impose sanctions, and prosecute individuals or entities that provide material support to the cartel. It effectively criminalizes any form of assistance to the group, tightening the noose around Maduro’s inner circle and their international enablers.
A Broader Crackdown on Hemispheric Narco-Terrorism
This action is part of a broader U.S. strategy to combat what it calls “hemispheric narco-terrorism.” The Cartel de los Soles is now grouped with other designated FTOs such as Colombia’s ELN and Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel, reflecting a shift in U.S. policy that treats transnational criminal organizations not just as law enforcement challenges but as national security threats.
The designation also underscores the growing convergence between organized crime and political power in parts of Latin America, where weak institutions and economic crises have created fertile ground for corruption and criminality.
Venezuela’s Response: Defiance and Denial
Predictably, the Maduro government has rejected the designation, calling it a “politically motivated aggression” and accusing the U.S. of imperial overreach. In a televised address, Maduro dismissed the allegations as “fabricated lies” designed to justify foreign intervention and destabilize his government.
However, critics argue that the evidence is overwhelming. U.S. intelligence reports, defector testimonies, and investigative journalism have painted a consistent picture of a regime deeply entangled in drug trafficking operations. The Treasury Department had already sanctioned the cartel earlier this year, labeling it a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity and freezing its assets under U.S. jurisdiction.
What Comes Next?
The designation raises critical questions about the future of U.S.-Venezuela relations and the broader geopolitical landscape of Latin America. Will this lead to increased sanctions, military posturing, or even covert operations? Or will it push other regional actors to take a firmer stance against the Maduro regime?
For now, the move is being hailed by some as a long-overdue step in confronting a regime that has weaponized state institutions for criminal gain. Others warn that it could backfire, hardening anti-American sentiment in the region and complicating diplomatic efforts.
What is clear is that the U.S. has drawn a bold red line—one that redefines the boundaries between crime, terrorism, and state sovereignty in the Western Hemisphere.As the November 24 implementation date approaches, the world will be watching closely. The designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization is not just a legal maneuver—it is a geopolitical gambit with far-reaching consequences.
