A Big Step by the United States
The United States has taken a very big step (US linking). It has put new pressure on Venezuela. The pressure is on Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro.
The US government has labeled a Venezuelan group as a terrorist group. The group is called the Cartel de los Soles. This name is Spanish. It means the “Cartel of the Suns.”
The US says President Maduro is the leader of this group. This is a very serious link. The US says this group brings drugs into the country. The US says this group causes violence. US linking
Why is this action so important? What does the terrorist label actually do? This article will explain this serious situation in simple terms.
What is the Cartel de los Soles? US linking
The Cartel de los Soles is not a normal drug cartel. It is not like the drug groups in Mexico. This is not a separate organization.
It is a name for a system of corruption. It is a network of bad behavior. This network is made up of high-ranking military officers in Venezuela. US linking
The name “Cartel of the Suns” comes from the Venezuelan military. Generals in the military wear sun patches on their uniforms. The term was first used a long time ago. It described military people who were getting rich from drug trafficking.
Over time, this network grew larger. It now includes many police and government workers. They profit from illegal activities. These activities include drug-running and illegal mining. US linking
Experts say it is a system of corruption. It is not a strict, organized cartel. However, the US government says it is an organization. The US says this group is led by Mr. Maduro.
The Terrorist Label is a Game-Changer
The US has an official list. This list names Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). Groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda are on this list.
The US has now added the Cartel de los Soles to this list. This is the latest part of a campaign. It is a fight against drug trafficking. The US calls this type of crime “narco-terrorism.” US linking
Putting a group on the FTO list is very important. It has major consequences.
1. Targeting Money US linking
This label hits the group’s money hard. It is a financial attack. The US Treasury Department can now freeze any money the group has in the US. US linking
It makes it harder for the group to use the global banking system. It stops Americans from doing any business with the group. This cuts off their money supply.
2. Legal Power
The FTO label gives US law enforcement new tools. The US government can target and stop the group’s activities more easily.
It is a crime for any person in the US to help a group on this list. It is called giving “material support.” This new label makes it easier for the US to prosecute people. It gives prosecutors more legal options.
3. New Military Options
This is the most serious part of the move. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth talked about the new label. He said it “brings a whole bunch of new options” to the US. He said the US now has “more tools” to deal with the problem. US linking
This FTO label does not automatically mean the US will start a war. It does not automatically allow lethal military force. But it creates a stronger reason for military action. It gives the President more power to act. It provides a legal basis to target the group. This is a big reason why the US has a huge military buildup in the Caribbean.
The Direct Attack on President Maduro US linking
The US is not just attacking a corrupt group. It is directly attacking the leader of Venezuela. The US says Mr. Maduro is the head of the Cartel de los Soles. US linking
This link is very significant.
First, the US Justice Department already charged Mr. Maduro. In 2020, they charged him and other officials with narco-terrorism. They also charged them with corruption.
Second, the US has a reward for Mr. Maduro’s capture. This reward is for information that leads to his arrest. The reward is a very large amount of money. It is $50 million. US linking
The US says Mr. Maduro is not a true leader. They call him “illegitimate.” By naming him the leader of a terrorist group, the US has lowered his status even more. It changes the fight from a political problem to a security problem. This makes the leader of Venezuela a wanted man. It treats him like the head of a major terrorist organization.
Venezuela Fights Back US linking
The government of Venezuela strongly rejects the US claims. They say the US is using a lie. This say the Cartel de los Soles does not exist. They call the US label a “ridiculous fabrication.”
Venezuela says the US is doing this for one reason. They say the US wants an excuse for regime change. They say the US wants to overthrow Mr. Maduro.
Venezuela says the US wants to take control. They say the US wants Venezuela’s natural resources. This includes Venezuela’s large oil and gas reserves.
The Venezuelan Foreign Minister rejected the accusation. He called it an “infamous and vile lie.” He said the US wants an “illegal intervention against Venezuela.”
Mr. Maduro is trying to keep the country calm. He says that Venezuela will never be defeated. He says that the country is ready to resist any foreign intervention.
What Happens Next?
This situation is very tense. The US military buildup in the Caribbean is still growing. The US Navy has major warships in the area. They are carrying out military exercises.
The FTO designation is part of this pressure. It is a tool for the US. The US wants to stop drug flow. It also wants to push Mr. Maduro out of power.
The US has not yet used military force against targets inside Venezuela. But the new terrorist label increases the risk. It gives the US military more legal room to act.
This move makes doing business with Venezuela much harder. It warns other countries to stay away from Mr. Maduro’s government. It shows that the US is very serious about its campaign.
The next few months will be critical. The US has the force and the legal reason to act. Mr. Maduro says he will never give up. The world is watching to see if this pressure leads to war.
Read More Articles Click Here. Read Previous Article click Here. Inspired by Al-Jazeera.
About the Author
