Venezuela Rejects US Terrorist Designation of ‘Cartel de los Soles’ Amid Military Buildup

Venezuela Rejects US Terrorist Designation of ‘Cartel de los Soles’ Amid Military Buildup

Venezuela on Monday slammed the US designation of the alleged ‘Cartel de los Soles’ as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), calling it a “ridiculous lie” intended to justify an “illegitimate” military intervention.

The Trump administration has accused President Nicolas Maduro of heading the alleged Venezuelan drug cartel, prompting fears of a possible US military action. In response, Venezuela’s foreign ministry denounced the move as a ploy to legitimize intervention against the South American nation.

The US military has deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier and other forces near Venezuelan waters, citing efforts to dismantle Latin American drug trafficking routes. US authorities have also issued a $50 million reward for Maduro’s capture, alleging his control over the cartel.

Despite the allegations, Maduro, who faced a widely criticized reelection last year, remained defiant. During a public broadcast, he said, “Whatever they do, wherever they do it, however they do it, they will not be able to defeat Venezuela. We are invincible.”

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US top military officer Dan Caine is scheduled to visit Trinidad and Tobago, a US ally near Venezuela, to discuss countering illicit trafficking and transnational criminal organizations. The visit is part of ongoing maximum pressure campaigns by Washington against Maduro’s government.

Experts say the so-called Cartel de los Soles refers more broadly to corruption among senior officials rather than an organized drug syndicate. Meanwhile, US forces have reportedly killed at least 83 people in strikes on boats accused of ferrying drugs since September, with no public evidence confirming the shipments.

The escalating US-Venezuela tensions have also affected civilian air travel. Several airlines have canceled flights to Venezuela, and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned of heightened risks in Venezuelan airspace due to military activity.

The designation of the cartel as a foreign terrorist organization provides Washington legal cover for further pressure on the Venezuelan authorities, raising concerns over the potential for expanded US intervention in the region.

Venezuela Rejects US Terrorist Designation of ‘Cartel de los Soles’ Amid Military Buildup