In a significant escalation of diplomatic pressure against Venezuela, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has officially designated the notorious Cartel de Los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, marking a new chapter in America’s confrontational approach toward the Maduro regime.
The designation, formally filed on November 16 and published in the Federal Register on November 24, targets what U.S. officials describe as a sprawling criminal enterprise with deep ties to Venezuela’s current government. The Cartel de Los Soles—literally translated as the “Cartel of the Suns”—has long been viewed by American intelligence agencies as a key player in the country’s deteriorating security landscape.
This latest move represents a substantial ratcheting up of the Biden administration’s strategy to isolate Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government through targeted sanctions and designations. The terrorist organization label carries significant legal and financial implications, effectively freezing any U.S.-based assets and criminalizing material support for the group.
The timing of the designation is particularly notable, coming as Venezuela continues to face international scrutiny over its democratic institutions and human rights record. The alleged criminal network has been accused by U.S. authorities of operating with impunity under the protection of high-ranking Venezuelan officials, creating what critics describe as a narco-state apparatus.
For the Maduro government, this designation adds another layer of international isolation to an already lengthy list of sanctions and diplomatic measures imposed by the United States and its allies. The move signals that Washington remains committed to maintaining maximum pressure on the Venezuelan leadership despite ongoing regional diplomatic efforts to find peaceful solutions to the country’s crisis.
The terrorist designation process typically involves extensive intelligence gathering and legal review, suggesting that U.S. authorities have compiled substantial evidence linking the cartel to activities that meet the statutory requirements for such a classification. This includes involvement in terrorist activities that threaten U.S. national security or the safety of American citizens abroad.
As Venezuela continues to grapple with economic collapse, mass migration, and political instability, this latest U.S. action underscores the complex challenges facing the region and the international community’s struggle to address the multifaceted crisis engulfing the South American nation.
