US Set to Label Alleged Maduro-Linked Cartel as Foreign Terrorist Organization

The United States intends to designate a cartel it alleges is led by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Sunday, amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas.

“Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe,” Rubio said in a statement.

The move comes on the heels of a major U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, which Washington says is aimed at stopping drug smuggling into the country. Caracas, however, argues the deployment is part of a broader plan to topple Maduro, whom the U.S. has long refused to recognize as Venezuela’s legitimate leader and has repeatedly accused of involvement in narcotrafficking — allegations Maduro denies.

Rubio reaffirmed longstanding U.S. claims that the Cartel de los Soles (“Cartel of the Suns”) is overseen by Maduro and other senior Venezuelan officials who have allegedly “corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary.”

“Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government,” he added.

Rubio also stated that the U.S. “will continue using all available tools to protect our national security interests and deny funding and resources to narco-terrorists.”

Since the launch of Washington’s anti-trafficking military operation in September, U.S. forces have killed at least 83 people accused of moving drugs through international waters, according to an AFP tally based on publicly released information.

The United States has not provided evidence proving that those targeted in more than 20 strikes across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific were drug traffickers. Experts warn that, even in cases involving known suspects, the killings constitute extrajudicial executions.

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