The U.S. government is preparing to officially designate the Cartel de los Soles, associated with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his allies, as a foreign terrorist organization. This move is part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking into the United States. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused the Cartel de los Soles of being responsible for terrorist violence in the Western Hemisphere.

The term Cartel de los Soles originated in the 1990s, referring to high-ranking military officials in Venezuela who profited from drug trafficking. Over time, it has come to encompass various government and police officials involved in illegal activities, including drug trafficking, illegal mining, and fuel smuggling. The name derives from the sun insignias on military officers' epaulettes.

In 2020, the U.S. Justice Department indicted Maduro and several associates on charges related to narcoterrorism, elevating the Cartel de los Soles to a significant drug-trafficking organization. Adam Isaacson, a defense oversight director at the Washington Office on Latin America, noted that the Cartel de los Soles does not operate as a traditional group with a defined hierarchy or membership.

Historically, the designation of foreign terrorist organizations has been reserved for groups like the Islamic State and al-Qaida. However, the Trump administration has broadened this classification to include various Latin American criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and other illicit activities. The administration has conducted military operations in the Caribbean aimed at intercepting drug shipments, which have reportedly resulted in numerous casualties.

Critics, including Maduro, argue that these military actions are aimed at undermining his government rather than solely addressing drug trafficking. The U.S. military presence in the region has coincided with renewed efforts by Venezuela's opposition to remove Maduro from power. Maduro, who has been in office since 2013, faces allegations of human rights violations and electoral fraud.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicated that the designation of the Cartel de los Soles would provide new options for the U.S. in dealing with Maduro, although specific strategies have not been disclosed. The Trump administration has expressed skepticism about the viability of Maduro's continued rule, with intelligence reports suggesting growing anxiety among Venezuelan officials in response to U.S. military actions.

General Dan Caine, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is scheduled to visit Puerto Rico as a U.S. Navy warship is deployed to the Caribbean region. This visit coincides with the planned designation of Maduro's government as a foreign terrorist organization. Reports indicate that the U.S. is contemplating a new phase of covert operations in Venezuela, marking a significant escalation following recent U.S. airstrikes on suspected drug boats, which have reportedly resulted in over 80 fatalities.

Additionally, six airlines have suspended flights to Venezuela due to warnings from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding a deteriorating security situation and increased military activity in the area. The U.S. Justice Department has increased the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest, reflecting ongoing tensions between the two nations. Maduro has consistently denied the allegations against him, asserting that the U.S. is fabricating a narrative to justify intervention in Venezuela's internal affairs. The U.S. Treasury Department previously imposed sanctions on the Cartel de los Soles, accusing Maduro and his allies of leveraging state resources to facilitate drug trafficking operations.