The United States has announced its intention to designate a putative Venezuelan drug cartel, allegedly led by the country's president Nicolás Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organisation. This significant escalation in the Trump administration's campaign against the South American leader was revealed on Sunday, 15th November 2025.
A Declaration from Washington
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the announcement, stating that the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) would be formally designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) effective 24 November. In a tweet, Rubio accused the group, which he claimed was "headed by the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro," of corrupting Venezuela's government institutions and being responsible for terrorist violence and drug trafficking into the United States and Europe.
This move generated immediate excitement among hardline adversaries of Maduro, who interpreted it as a clear signal that Washington was preparing to intensify its efforts to force the Venezuelan leader from power.
Mixed Messages and Military Might
However, the firm stance appeared to be almost immediately undermined by President Donald Trump himself. Shortly after Rubio's pronouncement, Trump hinted to reporters that he might be prepared to negotiate, stating, "We may be having some conversations with Maduro, and we’ll see how that turns out. They would like to talk."
This contradiction comes amidst a notable military build-up in the region. The world's largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R Ford, recently arrived in the Caribbean, bringing the total number of US service personnel deployed there to approximately 15,000. This deployment is part of a series of aggressive actions since August, including deadly strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats and the offer of a $50 million reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest—a sum twice that once offered for Osama bin Laden.
Experts Question the 'Cartel' and the Strategy
Many Venezuela specialists express deep skepticism about the very existence of the Cartel of the Suns as a formal organisation comparable to Mexican cartels. Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based analyst for Crisis Group, called the cartel "fictitious" and a "convenient shorthand" for the Maduro government's involvement in crime.
"Of course there are people in the military doing drug trafficking. Of course the government allows them to do it and grants them impunity," Gunson said. "But there isn't a cartel as such. There's no organisation."
Experts believe the primary goal of this campaign is not truly about halting drug trafficking, but rather to pressure Maduro into stepping down with the implicit threat of military force. Yet, Gunson notes that this strategy of escalation carries risks. "The more you escalate the fewer options you have... and the more it becomes apparent that you are bluffing," he warned, suggesting Maduro may be less likely to take the threats seriously, potentially leaving the US with little to show for its aggressive posture.
