U.S. Says Venezuela's Cartel De Los Soles Is Foreign Terrorist Organization
2 weeks ago
The United States on Monday formally designated Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, layering additional terrorism-related sanctions on the group it has said includes President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking officials.
Venezuela's government rejected what it called a "ridiculous" U.S. plan to designate the "non-existent" group.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this month the U.S. would designate Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) for the network's alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the U.S.
Maduro faces escalating pressure from President Donald Trump's U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, raising concerns that the U.S. may seek to use the designation to justify military action. Sanctions experts, however, have said the statute for the designation does not authorize such a move.
The U.S. for months has waged a campaign of deadly strikes against suspected drug trafficking boats off the Venezuelan coast and the Pacific coast of Latin America. Reuters reported on Saturday that the U.S. is poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the designation would bring "a whole bunch of new options to the United States," in excerpts released on Thursday from an interview with One America News.
U.S. officials have accused Cartel de los Soles of working with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Washington also ties to Maduro and previously designated an FTO, to send illegal narcotics to the U.S.
Venezuela's government rejected what it called a "ridiculous" U.S. plan to designate the "non-existent" group.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this month the U.S. would designate Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) for the network's alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the U.S.
Maduro faces escalating pressure from President Donald Trump's U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean, raising concerns that the U.S. may seek to use the designation to justify military action. Sanctions experts, however, have said the statute for the designation does not authorize such a move.
The U.S. for months has waged a campaign of deadly strikes against suspected drug trafficking boats off the Venezuelan coast and the Pacific coast of Latin America. Reuters reported on Saturday that the U.S. is poised to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the designation would bring "a whole bunch of new options to the United States," in excerpts released on Thursday from an interview with One America News.
U.S. officials have accused Cartel de los Soles of working with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, which Washington also ties to Maduro and previously designated an FTO, to send illegal narcotics to the U.S.
