The United States formally considers the Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization as of this Monday, a measure that opens the door to stronger punitive actions against Venezuela and tightens the noose around Nicolás Maduro. The Federal Register, similar to Spain's BOE, has published the decision announced last week by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, thus immediately taking effect.
"Based on the review of the Administrative Record compiled in this matter, and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, I have concluded that there is sufficient factual basis to determine that the relevant circumstances described in Article 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act exist with respect to the Cartel of the Suns (also known as Cartel of the Suns). Therefore, I designate the aforementioned organization and its respective aliases as a Foreign Terrorist Organization," the document states. Likewise, the Department of the Treasury has documented the decision on its website.
The Venezuelan government criticized and rejected the designation on Monday. In a statement, Foreign Minister Yvan Gil referred to it as a "ridiculous hoax" aimed at justifying an illegal intervention. "Venezuela categorically, firmly, and absolutely rejects the new and ridiculous hoax by the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Marco Rubio, designating the non-existent Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization," the Ministry stated.
The decision is controversial, mainly because the Cartel of the Suns is similar to the 'Antifa' movement, also considered terrorist by the Trump administration: they do not exist as such. It is not an organization, it does not have a precise structure, but rather a way of referring to all networks that benefit from or participate in drug trafficking. Venezuelans began using the term Cartel of the Suns over 30 years ago, implicating military commanders throughout the country who were enriching themselves, even before the years of Hugo Chávez.
It began to take shape in the late 90s when alternative routes were sought for the shipment of Colombian cocaine after the dismantling of the Medellín Cartel. Now it is used in a broad, often abstract sense, for everything related to illegal activities (not only drugs but also smuggling or irregular mining) involving politicians, officials, police, or military personnel, dubbed "suns" due to the golden insignias on their uniforms. Particularly singled out were General Ramón Guillén Dávila, head of the National Guard's Drug Trafficking Services, and his successor, Orlando Hernández Villegas.
However, the US has established that Maduro, as the country's leader, is responsible, the leader, of a drug trafficking organization and has put a bounty on his head, offering rewards for information leading to his arrest. This was done during Trump's first term and has now revived the rhetoric while deploying the fleet in the Caribbean in an unprecedented manner in many decades.
In this administration, Trump has designated numerous South American cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, a move that technically paves the way for military operations against them. In international waters, as has been done so far with boats allegedly operated by drug traffickers, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people, possibly even on national territory. From Venezuela or even Mexico, in operations reminiscent of those in Afghanistan and other places in the Middle East.
The tension is currently at its peak, with constant rumors. President Trump usually spends weekends at his Florida residence, but last Friday decided to stay in Washington, without any scheduled agenda, fueling speculation about a possible aerial attack on Venezuelan territory. Airspace restrictions have multiplied, major commercial airlines have canceled their flights to or from Venezuela. Even soldiers and commanders have been notified to stay alert and not stray from their bases this week, which coincides with Thanksgiving in the US, one of the most important family holidays with millions of travels.
On Saturday, Reuters reported that the Pentagon was set to "launch a new phase of operations related to Venezuela in the coming days," citing four senior administration officials. The report did not specify the implications of this new phase or whether the president had made a decision, but everyone in Washington assumes that there will be movement, especially since the White House authorized the CIA and provided instructions to carry out operations against the Bolivarian government.
An invasion is not being considered, but rather attacks or bombings on military installations, non-civil airports, or even ports operated by the Venezuelan army and navy, which the US considers key pieces in the drug trafficking puzzle. Washington seeks a regime change, for Maduro to leave, go into exile, or be handed over, and for the country to hold elections that lead to a historic shift, after Maduro's government rigged the last elections, denying Edmundo González's victory and refusing to publish the voting records.