Trump Administration Intensifies Pressure on Venezuela by Designating Cartel de los Soles as Terror Group

The Trump administration is amplifying its efforts against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro by labeling the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. This highlights ongoing tensions related to alleged narcoterrorism activities. The move aligns with broader strategies, potentially involving military actions, to challenge Maduro's reign.

The Trump administration has upped the ante in its campaign against Nicolas Maduro's Venezuelan regime by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. Despite claims that Maduro leads the cartel, it is not a traditional cartel with regular hierarchies or meetings, according to experts.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio blames Cartel de los Soles for terrorist violence in the region, justifying the new designation. The classification is part of a broader operation to combat drug trafficking; however, skeptics argue it may also aim to destabilize Maduro's longstanding grip on power.

As military interventions remain a possibility, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted that the designation provides new strategies against Venezuela. Alternatively, diplomatic channels seem obstructed, with Maduro unsuccessfully seeking direct communication with Trump amidst ongoing US military presence in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)