US To Designate Nicolás Maduro As Terror Outfit Member, Venezuela Says 'Ridiculous'

Last Updated:November 24, 2025, 19:19 IST

The Trump administration to designate Nicolás Maduro as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, enabling new sanctions and intensifying US military presence near Venezuela.

Tensions have escalated between US President Donald Trump and Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. (Reuters)

The Trump administration has announced the decision to designated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his government allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization. In response, Venezuela called the move as “ridiculous".

The designation of “Cartel de los Soles" will be added to the Venezuelan administration on Monday. This will authorise President Donald Trump to impose fresh sanctions targeting Maduro’s assets and infrastructure though won’t authorise use of lethal force.

Cartel de los Soles is usually used for a decentralised network of Venezuelan groups within the armed forces linked to drug trafficking.

In response, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: “Venezuela categorically, firmly, and absolutely rejects the new and ridiculous lie from the Secretary of the Department of State, Marco Rubio, who designates the alleged Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization… to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela."

Maduro has always rejected allegations of his involvement in drug trafficking and his government has denied presence of alleged cartel.

On November 16, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “The Department of State intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), effective November 24, 2025. Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is headed by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary."

He claimed Cartel de los Soles and other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are “responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe".

“Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela’s legitimate government," he said.

According to CNN, the US military has amassed more than a dozen warships and 15,000 troops into the region as part of what the Pentagon has branded “Operation Southern Spear." The US military has killed dozens of people in boat strikes as part of the anti-drug-trafficking campaign.

On Thursday, the US conducted its largest military display near Venezuela, as at least six US aircraft appeared off the nation’s coast over the course of several hours, including a supersonic F/A-18E fighter jet, a B-52 strategic bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, CNN reported.

During the weekend, three international airlines even cancelled their flights that were scheduled to depart from Venezuela.

In July, the US Treasury Department sanctioned Cartel de los Soles calling it a “Specially Designated Global Terrorist" organisation and claimed that it “provided material support to Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel."

According to the Treasury, “The cartel’s name is derived from the sun insignias often portrayed on the uniforms of Venezuelan military officials."

News world US To Designate Nicolás Maduro As Terror Outfit Member, Venezuela Says 'Ridiculous'

Read More