U.S. to Designate Venezuela's 'Cartel de los Soles' as Foreign Terrorist Organization as USS Gerald R. Ford Deploys to Caribbean

U.S. Announces Terrorist Designation for "Cartel de los Soles"; Carrier Arrives in Caribbean

Sen. Marco Rubio announced Sunday that the United States will designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, a move the U.S. government says will take effect on Nov. 24. The announcement came hours after the U.S. Navy said the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford entered the Caribbean Sea as part of a larger regional deployment.

Rubio accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and "other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime" of leading and enabling the cartel, which, he said, has corrupted Venezuela's military, intelligence services, legislature and judiciary. The administration alleges the cartel and allied groups are responsible for terrorist violence across the hemisphere and for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe; Maduro and his government have denied those charges.

"Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela's legitimate government," Rubio said in a statement announcing the designation.

President Trump told reporters Sunday that U.S. officials "may be having some discussions" with Maduro, adding, "They would like to talk." The White House has also discussed a range of options for Venezuela with senior administration and military officials in recent days, according to sources familiar with the deliberations.

Naval Buildup and Counterdrug Operations

The arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford—part of what the Pentagon has described as a major buildup of U.S. forces in the region—was framed by U.S. officials as a measure to combat narcotics trafficking and related transnational threats. The carrier strike group includes aircraft squadrons and guided-missile destroyers transiting key maritime routes in the Caribbean.

U.S. military officials say that over the past two months they have struck at least 22 vessels they alleged were transporting drugs from South America to the United States; the U.S. has said those strikes resulted in at least 83 deaths. The administration has described some of the targets as linked to foreign terrorist organizations, but it has not publicly released detailed evidence substantiating those specific claims.

Adm. Alvin Holsey, commander of U.S. Southern Command, said: "Through unwavering commitment and the precise use of our forces, we stand ready to combat the transnational threats that seek to destabilize our region."

Regional and Legal Concerns

The U.S. move and the naval deployment have heightened tensions in the region. Venezuela announced large-scale military exercises reportedly involving hundreds of thousands of personnel in response to what it described as increased foreign pressure. Critics inside Venezuela and observers abroad say the buildup appears aimed at pressuring Maduro to leave office.

Regional governments, the U.N. human rights office and lawmakers in the United States have asked for clearer evidence and legal justification for the maritime strikes and for the terrorist designation. In the U.S. Senate, a recent resolution to limit presidential authority for military action against Venezuela failed on a 49-51 vote.

Outlook

Experts remain divided over how far the United States will go, including whether airstrikes or other direct actions on Venezuelan territory are likely. For now, the deployment of a 100,000-ton carrier strike group is a clear signal of U.S. military capability and intent in the Western Hemisphere, and the situation continues to be closely watched by governments and analysts across the region.