U.S. to designate Venezuela’s ‘Cartel de los Soles’ as FTO on Nov. 24
U.S. officials plan to designate Venezuela’s “Cartel de los Soles” as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on Nov. 24, 2025 — a move Secretary of State Marco Rubio said will mirror a Treasury designation from July and that the administration has tied to Nicolás Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials. The step is being framed as negotiating leverage and could open the door to targeting assets or infrastructure as military options remain on the table amid U.S. maritime strikes that have killed more than 80 people, though experts caution the term describes loose, corrupt military networks rather than a discrete cartel and authorities have not publicly linked specific strikes to named groups.
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📌 Key Facts
- The U.S. plans to designate “Cartel de los Soles” as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on Monday, Nov. 24, 2025; Secretary of State Marco Rubio previewed the step and accused the network of being “responsible for terrorist violence.”
- The Treasury Department already labeled “Cartel de los Soles” a global terrorist entity in July 2025, and the State Department will move to mirror that action under State’s procedures.
- The administration broadened use of the FTO designation earlier in 2025 (February), applying it to eight Latin American criminal organizations and expanding the tool beyond groups traditionally thought of as terrorists.
- Multiple experts and organizations (including WOLA commentary cited by NPR/PBS/NYT) say “Cartel de los Soles” is not a discrete trafficking cartel with a clear membership or hierarchy but an umbrella term for corrupt Venezuelan military officers and networks; DEA and UNODC do not list it as a trafficking organization.
- Administration officials, including President Trump, have tied the planned FTO designation to pressure on Nicolás Maduro—linking him to drug trafficking and migration—and suggested it could permit targeting Maduro’s assets or infrastructure; officials also said no decision has been made to carry out such targeting and no land-based strikes have been planned or authorized.
- The designation is being presented as part of a broader pressure campaign that has included maritime strikes and carrier deployment; U.S. maritime strikes tied to the campaign have reportedly killed more than 80 people and expanded from the Caribbean into the eastern Pacific.
- Reporters and analysts note the administration rarely identifies which organizations operate the boats it has struck and has not provided public evidence connecting specific strikes to designated groups, raising questions about the legal and operational implications of applying the FTO label to a diffuse umbrella term.
📰 Sources (8)
U.S. set to label Maduro-tied Cartel de los Soles as a terror organization. It’s not a cartel per se
New information:
- AP notes the designation is planned for Monday (Nov. 24, 2025) as the latest step to pressure Maduro.
- Expert context: Adam Isaacson (WOLA) says 'Cartel de los Soles' is not a discrete group with hierarchy but a loose umbrella term.
- Policy context: The administration already expanded FTO use in February to eight Latin American criminal organizations, broadening the label beyond groups like ISIS/al‑Qaida.
- Operational detail: U.S. maritime strikes have expanded from off Venezuela to the eastern Pacific and have killed more than 80 people.
- Evidence point: The administration rarely identifies the organizations behind targeted boats and has not provided evidence linking specific strikes to designated groups.
U.S. set to label Maduro-tied Cartel de los Soles as a terror organization
New information:
- AP/NPR report says the designation is planned for Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, specifying timing.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio previewed the step about a week earlier, accusing the network of being 'responsible for terrorist violence.'
- Context that in February the administration applied the FTO label to eight Latin American criminal organizations, expanding use beyond traditional terrorist groups.
- Operational detail: U.S. maritime strikes tied to the campaign have killed 'more than 80' people and expanded from the Caribbean to the eastern Pacific, per AP.
- AP notes the administration rarely identifies which organizations operate the targeted boats and has not provided evidence tying specific strikes to designated groups.
- Expert clarification (Adam Isaacson, WOLA) that 'Cartel de los Soles' is not a discrete cartel with membership or hierarchy, but an umbrella term for corrupt networks.
Trump Team Calls Maduro a ‘Cartel’ Boss. That Word Doesn’t Mean What You Think.
New information:
- NYT reports Treasury already labeled 'Cartel de los Soles' a global terrorist entity in July 2025.
- States that on Sunday (Nov. 16), Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the State Department would move to effectively mirror Treasury’s action under State’s procedures.
- Provides expert context that 'Cartel de los Soles' is not a discrete cartel but a Venezuelan term for military officers corrupted by drug money.
- Notes DEA’s National Drug Threat Assessment and the UNODC World Drug Report do not list 'Cartel de los Soles' as a trafficking organization.
Trump says he won't rule out sending U.S. troops into Venezuela
New information:
- Trump said the FTO designation could open the door to targeting assets and infrastructure inside Venezuela.
- This update links the contemplated designation directly to potential kinetic options as the U.S. buildup continues.
Trump leaves military action against Venezuela on the table but floats possible talks
New information:
- Reiterates administration expectation to designate Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization, tying it to Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials.
- Frames the potential designation as part of a pressure campaign occurring alongside maritime strikes and carrier deployment.
- Expert commentary (Atlantic Council) characterizes the approach as negotiating from a 'place of strength.'
Trump floats possible talks with Venezuela but leaves military action on the table
New information:
- Trump tied Maduro to drugs and migration and indicated he does not rule out military action, framing pressure as the administration moves toward designating Cartel de los Soles.
- Positions the FTO step as part of negotiating leverage while leaving escalation options open.
Trump reveals Maduro 'would like to talk' as military options remain on the table for Venezuela
New information:
- Trump explicitly linked the recent cartel designation to potential authority to target Maduro’s assets or infrastructure.
- He emphasized no decision has been made to carry out such targeting and that land-based strikes have not been planned or authorized.