Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a pro-government youth rally on November 13, 2025, in Venezuela, Caracas. Jesus Vargas/picture alliance/Getty Images

As the Trump administration ramps up the pressure on Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, experts and former government officials have raised concerns about its move to designate Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization.

They argue it is not a formally organized cartel similar to criminal organizations in Colombia and Mexico, and it’s a stretch to suggest Maduro leads it, though there is government involvement in the drug trade.

They suggested the designation provides the administration a justification to take military action against the Venezuelan government.

US President Donald Trump said as much on

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