The Trump administration formally designated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) called “Cartel de los Soles” on Monday, November 24, 2025.
This designation, one of the State Department’s most serious counterterrorism tools, is intended to expand the authority of President Donald Trump to take action against the Maduro regime.
Key Implications of the FTO Designation
The FTO designation immediately provides the US administration with expanded options against Venezuelan government officials and assets:
- Sanctions Authority: The designation authorizes President Trump to impose fresh sanctions aimed at targeting Maduro’s assets and infrastructure.
- Military Options Argument: While legal experts state the designation doesn’t explicitly authorize lethal force, administration officials are arguing that the FTO status provides expanded military options for striking inside Venezuela.
- “Cartel de los Soles”: Experts describe the “Cartel de los Soles” as a decentralized network of Venezuelan groups within the armed forces allegedly linked to drug trafficking, rather than a conventional organized crime group. Maduro and his government have consistently denied its existence and any personal involvement in drug trafficking.
Military Posture and US Strategy
The designation occurred amid significant military activity in the region and public uncertainty about the administration’s ultimate goals:
- Operation Southern Spear: The US military had already amassed more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops in the region as part of “Operation Southern Spear,” an anti-drug-trafficking campaign that has involved boat strikes.
- Briefed Options: Trump has been briefed on a range of options, including strikes on military or government facilities and special operations raids. The option of doing nothing remains.
- Military Display: Prior to the designation, the US conducted its largest military display near Venezuela, including supersonic F/A-18E fighter jets, a B-52 strategic bomber, and reconnaissance aircraft.
- Official Goal vs. Side Effect: Officially, the administration’s stated goal is to cut down on illegal flows of migrants and drugs. However, officials acknowledge that regime change is a possible side effect of these efforts, with the hope that the pressure will force Maduro to step down without direct military action.
- Public Opinion: A CBS News/YouGov poll showed that 70% of Americans oppose US military action in Venezuela, and 76% believe the administration has not clearly explained its position.
Diplomatic Aperture
Despite the escalating military pressure, President Trump has expressed some openness to dialogue, stating he believed Maduro “would like to talk” and suggesting he would be open to speaking with him “at a certain time.”
