Venezuela condemned Washington’s decision to label the so-called Cartel of the Suns as a foreign terrorist organisation, calling the move a fabricated pretext for potential intervention as American military forces expand their presence in the Caribbean.
In a statement on Monday, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country “categorically, firmly, and absolutely rejects the new and ridiculous lie” from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who designated the alleged cartel as a terrorist group “to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela.”
The US designation, which took effect Monday, allows Washington to apply new forms of pressure on President Nicolas Maduro. The Trump administration claims the cartel is run by Maduro, although no evidence has been publicly presented to support the allegation.
The move is tied to Washington’s broader campaign against drug trafficking and illegal immigration from Latin America. The United States has deployed its largest aircraft carrier and other forces to the Caribbean as part of that effort. Officials in Caracas believe the buildup signals a possible attempt to overthrow Maduro.
According to publicly released figures compiled by news sources, US forces have killed at least 83 people in air strikes on boats accused of carrying drugs in international waters since September. No evidence has been made public showing that the boats were transporting narcotics. With the expanded military presence and the new terrorist designation, US authorities now have additional legal grounds for further action.
Senator Marco Rubio said on November 16 that the Cartel of the Suns was responsible for “terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere.”
The Trump administration has avoided specifying how far it is prepared to go in Venezuela, but the scale of the buildup and the repeated strikes on small boats have raised questions in Washington about whether US forces may be operating outside legal bounds.
Tensions have also affected civil aviation. Six airlines suspended flights to Venezuela on Saturday, citing safety concerns. The US Federal Aviation Administration warned on Friday that civilian aircraft should “exercise caution” in Venezuelan airspace due to the “worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.”