The United States is preparing to designate Venezuela’s so-called “Cartel de los Soles” as a foreign terrorist organisation, a move that marks a sharp escalation in a US pressure campaign against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The decision comes just days after the US added Nigeria to its list of “countries of concern”.
Despite its name, the “Cartel de los Soles” is not a traditional cartel but a term commonly used in Venezuela to describe military officers and government officials accused of corruption, drug trafficking, illegal mining and fuel smuggling. The US alleged that the network is closely tied to Maduro and senior figures in his administration.
The designation follows a major US military buildup in the Caribbean, where President Donald Trump’s administration has intensified operations targeting alleged drug-trafficking vessels. More than 80 people have been killed in these strikes in recent months, prompting criticism from UN officials and legal experts, who say the actions violate international law and amount to extrajudicial killings.
Trump is reportedly considering further steps, including covert operations aimed at undermining or overthrowing Maduro. US officials told Reuters that the timing and scope of the next phase remain undecided, but signalled that “nothing is off the table.”
The term “Cartel de los Soles” emerged in the 1990s to describe Venezuelan officers who had grown wealthy from drug-running. Over the years, the label expanded to include police, politicians and business allies involved in various illicit enterprises. In 2020, during Trump’s first term, the US Department of Justice accused Maduro and members of his inner circle of running a narcotics enterprise, charges which Maduro has dismissed as politically motivated.
The rising tensions have triggered flight cancellations, with six airlines suspending routes to Venezuela after the US warned of increased military activity around the country. Turkish Airlines also halted flights between November 24 and 28.
Maduro maintains that the United States is attempting to topple him and insists that Venezuelans will resist any intervention. But mounting international pressure — combined with fears of potential military escalation — has left Venezuela on edge as the US prepares its next move.
