The United States government has designated what is known among Venezuelans as the “Cartel de los Soles” as a “terrorist organisation” , marking Washington’s latest effort to put pressure on President Nicolas Maduro as the US weighs up military action on land.

On November 16, the US Department of State declared that the Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, a term Venezuelans use to refer to officials engaged in corruption, would be added to the “foreign terrorist organization” (FTO) list from today. The US alleges the “cartel” is overseen by Maduro himself.

Speaking to One America News on Friday, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the designation “brings a whole bunch of new options to the United States”, adding that Washington does not consider Maduro a legitimate leader.

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