Venezuelan โคOfficial Threatens U.S. Retaliation Following Terror Designation of โฃ’Cartel of the Suns‘
CARACAS – Diosdado Cabello, a prominent figure in Venezuela’s ruling socialist party, issuedโฃ a stark warning to โtheโ United States, vowing the country would be “annihilated” in responseโค to โWashington’s recentโ designation of the “Cartel of the Suns” – a โคgroup of high-ranking โVenezuelan military officials allegedly involved in drug trafficking โฃ- as a โขforeign terrorist organization. Cabello also sharply criticized U.S. Senator Marcoโค Rubio, labeling him aโฃ “clown” and accusing the United States of exploiting theโค situation forโ propaganda purposes.
Theโ escalating tensions follow a move โby the U.S. government to formally recognise the “Cartelโค of the Suns” as โขa significant threat, โคleveling sanctions โคand possibly opening the door โfor further legal action against individuals linked to the organization. โThis designation, and Cabello’s fiery response, underscores the โคdeepening โrift between venezuela and the U.S.,โค a relationship โขalready strained by politicalโ and economic crises.The situation raises concerns โคabout potentialโ further โescalation and the impact on regional โstability.
Cabello drew parallels between the current โคnarrativeโฃ surrounding the “Cartel of theโค Suns” and the pre-invasion claims โฃof “weapons of mass destruction” used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq, suggesting the U.S. is fabricating โขa pretext for intervention.โค He leveled the threat of annihilation directly at โฃthe U.S., signaling aโ willingness to retaliate againstโข perceived โขaggression.
Venezuelan President โNicolรกs Maduro echoed Cabello’s defiant stance, asserting that “Whatever they do, they will not be able โto defeat Venezuela,” and proclaiming the nation “invincible”โข in โคtheโฃ face ofโข escalating pressureโ from Washington. Maduro denounced what he characterized as “threats, psychological, political (and) diplomatic โฃwars” waged by the โU.S.
The designation ofโ the “Cartel of the Suns” โmarks a significantโ escalation in U.S. efforts to target alleged corruption and illicit activities within the Venezuelan government. Theโข group is accused of controlling significant โคportions of Venezuela’sโฃ cocaine trade and using its profits โขtoโค maintain power and influence.The U.S. State Department has offered rewards for facts leading to the arrest of key figures within the cartel.
