Venezuela Monday was described as “Ridiculous nonsense” The US designation of the alleged Sun Cartel as a terrorist organization linked by Washington to Nicolas Maduro.
The United States announced a few days ago that it intends to classify this alleged group as a foreign terrorist organization, but it has not yet officially announced this. He is expected to do so on Monday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement: “Venezuela categorically, resolutely and absolutely rejects the new and ridiculous hoax launched by the Secretary of State of the United States of America, Marco Rubio.” This is a “notorious and vile lie.” “To justify illegal and illegal intervention against Venezuela.”
“It is foolish for the Venezuelan government to waste part of its valuable time in government having to respond to these insults and slander. Fortunately, the Venezuelan people are more united and cohesive than ever before, and care about and support national life in all its dimensions.” Heading to the Christmas celebrations“He added.
He believes that this new “maneuver” by the United States will fail, like previous “repeated attacks.”
Nicolas Maduro’s government has urged the Trump administration to correct this “Policy of false attacks and threats”He said the peoples of North America themselves were rejected, which he warned “affects the development of the peoples of the Caribbean and does nothing to contribute to a real and real fight against illicit drug trafficking.”
On November 16, Marco Rubio announced that, effective Monday, the Sun Cartel had been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Group (FTO), an organization about which very little is known and which Washington links to the leadership of the Venezuelan military and government.
This decision was announced after the US Treasury Department had already designated the Cartel de los Soules in July as A specially designated global terrorist group (SDGT), despite the Venezuelan government’s insistence that this group It is an “invention” of the United States.
The designation of the Sun Cartel as a terrorist group is part of the Donald Trump government’s escalation of the fight against drug trafficking into the United States. This action can open doors For further ground attacks or other actions Which the United States has been carrying out for several months, through military deployment in the Caribbean and attacks on ships accused of drug smuggling, which resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people.
Venezuelans started using this term Cartel de los Soles in the 1990s To indicate High-ranking military leaders Who got rich from drug dealing.
As corruption spread throughout the country, first under the late President Hugo Chavez and then under Maduro, Its use was vaguely expanded to include police and government officialsIn addition to activities such as illegal mining and fuel smuggling. The “suns” in the name refer to Epaulettes Affixed to the uniforms of high-ranking military officers.
The general term has been used to describe a drug trafficking organization led by Maduro In 2020, When, during Trump’s first term, the US Department of Justice announced the indictment against the leader of Venezuela and his inner circle on drug-related terrorism and other charges.
“It’s not a group” said Adam Isaacson, director of oversight for advocacy at the Washington Office on Latin American Affairs. “It’s not like a group where people identify themselves as members. They do not have regular meetings. They have no hierarchy“.
Until this year, the foreign terrorist organization designation was reserved for groups such as Islamic State (ISIS) or Al-Qaeda Those who use violence for political purposes. The Trump administration implemented it last February Eight criminal organizations in Latin America Involved in drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and other activities.
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The White House blames those specific groups for operating the ships it attacks, but it rarely identifies the organizations and has provided no evidence. He claims that the attacks began off the coast of Venezuela and They later expanded into the Pacific Ocean Eastern, aims to stop the flow of drugs into American cities.
But many, including Maduro himself, see the military moves as an attempt to end the ruling party’s 26-year hold on power.
Since the arrival of US military ships and troops in the Caribbean months ago, Venezuela’s US-backed political opposition has also revived its standing pledge to remove Maduro from office, raising speculation about the purpose of what the Trump administration has called an anti-drug operation.
Trump is like his predecessor It does not recognize Maduro as president of Venezuela.