Venezuela on Monday dismissed as a “ridiculous lie” the United States’ decision to designate the alleged Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO), describing the move as a pretext for possible military intervention.
In a statement, Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused US Secretary of State Marco Rubio of fabricating allegations to “justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela.”
Washington’s designation officially took effect on Monday, potentially opening the door for additional sanctions and other forms of pressure against President Nicolás Maduro’s government. The Trump administration maintains that the shadowy group, which it claims is involved in large-scale drug trafficking, is controlled by Maduro; a claim for which no public evidence has been released.
The US says the measure forms part of its broader campaign against drug smuggling and illegal migration from Latin America.
In recent months, the US has increased its military footprint in the Caribbean, deploying what it describes as the world’s largest aircraft carrier alongside other naval assets. While Washington insists the buildup is part of an anti-drugs operation, officials in Caracas fear the military presence could be a cover for an attempt to topple Maduro.
According to an AFP tally, at least 83 people have been killed in US air strikes on boats accused of smuggling drugs in international waters since September. However, no publicly available evidence confirms that the boats carried narcotics.
The FTO designation, analysts say, could provide Washington with additional legal grounds to intensify pressure on Venezuelan authorities amid growing concerns within the US itself that the ongoing military operations may be overstepping legal boundaries.
The tensions have already had ripple effects across the region’s aviation sector. On Saturday, six airlines announced the suspension of flights to Venezuela, citing worsening security conditions. The US Federal Aviation Administration has also warned civilian aircraft to exercise caution when flying over Venezuelan airspace due to heightened military activity.
The Trump administration has not clarified how far it is prepared to go in confronting Venezuela. Yet the scale of the US military mobilization and repeated lethal operations at sea have raised alarms among regional observers and within Washington.
Rubio, speaking earlier on November 16, claimed the Cartel of the Suns is responsible for “terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere.”
Caracas has rejected the allegation, insisting the claims are politically motivated and aimed at destabilizing the Maduro administration.
