Venezuela Rejects US Terrorist Designation of 'Cartel de los Sol es' as 'Ridiculous'

• The United States has formally designated Venezuela's Cartel de los Sol es as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist, alleging it is led by President Nicolas Maduro and senior officials.
• Venezuela has rejected the designation as "ridiculous," calling the cartel "nonexistent" and accusing Washington of pursuing regime change under the guise of counterterrorism.
• The move, effective November 24, 2025, allows US authorities to freeze assets and criminalize material support, further straining Venezuela's economy and escalating regional tensions.

In a significant escalation of diplomatic pressure, the United States has formally labeled the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Sol es as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. The designation, which takes effect November 24, 2025, alleges the criminal network is embedded within the Venezuelan state apparatus and led by President Nicolas Maduro and other senior regime officials.

The US administration alleges the cartel's main activities include narcotics trafficking and providing material support to other terrorist and criminal organizations such as Tren de Aragua and Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel. According to people familiar with the matter, the designation gives the Pentagon new legal and operational tools for counter-narcotics actions in the region, with 21 US strikes already reported on alleged drug-running vessels in the Caribbean since August.

Venezuela's government immediately issued a statement publicly rejecting the designation as "ridiculous," calling the cartel "nonexistent" and accusing Washington of pursuing regime change under the guise of counterterrorism. The statement alleged these actions violate national sovereignty and mask imperialist intentions.

The FTO designation means any material support provided to the Cartel de los Sol es becomes a federal crime in the US, and American authorities can freeze its assets. Financial institutions are being warned of increased compliance risks as the sanctions aim to further isolate the Maduro regime, which the US does not recognize as Venezuela's legitimate government.

Venezuela's economy, already destabilized by years of hyperinflation and humanitarian crisis, faces additional strain from the expanded sanctions. The move represents a significant escalation from previous US sanctions that targeted individuals rather than the cartel organization itself.

Analysts note the designation could intensify diplomatic and humanitarian crises without addressing root causes of Venezuelan instability. The development may also impact Venezuela's relations with allies including Russia, China, and Iran while further isolating the country from Western financial systems.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the effective date of the designation; it is November 24, 2025.