The United States has announced plans to designate a Venezuelan drug cartel allegedly led by President Nicolás Maduro as a foreign terrorist organisation, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration's campaign against the South American leader.
Mixed Messages from Washington
Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed on Sunday that the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) would be officially designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization effective 24 November 2025. In a statement posted on social media, Rubio accused the group of corrupting Venezuela's government institutions and facilitating drug trafficking to the United States and Europe.
However, the hardline stance appeared to soften shortly afterwards when President Trump suggested he might be open to negotiations with Maduro's representatives. "We may be having some conversations with Maduro, and we'll see how that turns out. They would like to talk," Trump told reporters, creating confusion about the administration's consistent strategy.
Military Buildup in the Caribbean
The terrorist designation comes amid a substantial US military deployment to the region. The world's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford, recently arrived in the Caribbean, bringing the total number of US service personnel in the area to approximately 15,000.
This naval presence represents the largest in the region since the 1989 US invasion of Panama. Recent months have seen the Trump administration intensify pressure on Caracas with:
- Deadly strikes targeting alleged drug smuggling boats
- A $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest
- Increased diplomatic and economic sanctions
Experts Question Cartel's Existence
Many Venezuela specialists express skepticism about whether the Cartel of the Suns exists as a formal organisation comparable to Mexican cartels. Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for Crisis Group, described the group as "fictitious" and "convenient shorthand" for Maduro's alleged connections to criminal activities.
"Of course there are people in the military doing drug trafficking. Of course the government allows them to do it and grants them impunity to keep them onside," Gunson explained. "But there isn't a cartel as such. There's no organisation."
Experts believe the terrorist designation serves primarily as political leverage to pressure Maduro into stepping down, with the implicit threat of military force. However, Gunson noted that the escalating tactics have so far failed to achieve their objective, potentially reducing Washington's credibility if further action isn't taken.
The situation remains fluid as both diplomatic channels and military posturing continue simultaneously, leaving observers uncertain about whether the US is preparing for direct confrontation or seeking a negotiated solution to the Venezuela crisis.
