U.S. Escalates Pressure on Venezuela‘s Maduro Regime with Cartel Designation
The United States is increasing pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his governance, particularly in the wake of the July 2024 election, through a series of escalating actions including the designation of a powerful narcotics trafficking association linked to Maduro’s inner circle, known as the Cartel de los Soles. This designation, announced recently, is expected to open “a whole bunch of new options” for the U.S. in its dealings with Maduro, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though specific details of these options remain undisclosed. Hegseth clarified that while “nothing is off the table,” no specific actions are automatically planned, including potential military strikes within Venezuela.
The Trump administration has indicated a reluctance to accept Maduro remaining in power and is currently evaluating both military and non-military strategies, including potential covert operations by the CIA.A senior administration official, speaking anonymously, stated there is a strong internal belief that Maduro’s rule is “not lasting.” This official also reported that U.S. intelligence indicates growing anxiety among Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan officials in response to recent U.S. actions, with Trump expressing satisfaction with the current impact of these measures.
Despite increasingly urgent attempts by Maduro and his allies to establish direct interaction with the U.S. administration through various intermediaries, Trump has not authorized any such contact.
The escalation follows a 2020 indictment accusing Maduro, Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello, and Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López of conspiring with Colombian rebel groups and Venezuelan military personnel to traffic cocaine into the United States, effectively weaponizing the drug trade against the contry. The indictment alleges this conspiracy spanned several years. Historically, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), before their 2016 peace agreement, utilized the Venezuela-Colombia border region as a safe haven and transit point for cocaine shipments, often with the support of Venezuelan security forces. Dissident FARC members and Colombia’s National Liberation Army guerrilla continue to be involved in the illicit trade.
Maduro has denied the charges, claiming the U.S. is fabricating a drug-trafficking narrative to justify his removal from office. He points to a United Nations report, which he claims demonstrates that only approximately 5% of cocaine produced in colombia transits through Venezuela. The U.S. Justice Department has responded by doubling the reward for facts leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million.
The U.S. treasury Department sanctioned the Cartel de los Soles in July, asserting that Maduro and his allies have leveraged the Venezuelan government, military, and intelligence services to facilitate narcotics trafficking to the U.S. U.S. authorities also allege the cartel provides support to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa cartel, both designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S.in February.
