The United States officially designated Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and high-ranking members of the government as members of a foreign terrorist organization as of Monday (11/24). This designation, previously announced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is effective as of this date.
In response, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela rejected this measure “categorically, firmly and absolutely.” In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Venezuelan government classified the decision of the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to classify the so-called Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization, as a “ridiculous fraud,” which “does not exist,” according to Caracas.
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The statement stated that Washington would republish a notorious and vile lie to justify illegal and illegitimate intervention against Venezuela, under the classic American formula for regime change. The Venezuelan government also announced that the new American measure “will have the same fate as previous attacks against the country: failure.”
Moreover, he stated that he considered it “necessary to waste part of his valuable time in government to respond to these abuses and slander,” but that the Venezuelan people would be “united and cohesive” and actually live the period of Christmas celebrations.
The text ends by stating that the Venezuelan people, along with the police and army forces, will remain committed to “protecting the peace and the highest interests of the Republic.”
Los Sols Cartel
The designation refers to the “Los Soles Cartel”, a criminal group to be formed by the Venezuelan army and authorities, linked to drug trafficking and illegal activities that, according to US authorities, finance criminal networks in the region.
With the State Department’s resolve, more drastic measures could be taken, such as barring members of the Los Soles cartel from entering the United States, as well as making material support (supplying weapons) or financial support of the organization a serious federal crime.