Nicolas Maduro made appearances at two public events on Monday, choosing not to address recent allegations, but rather emphasizing Venezuela’s resilience. He assured the nation of its enduring strength, stating, “Whatever they do, wherever they do it, however they do it, they will not be able to defeat Venezuela. We are invincible,” during his weekly television program.
The term “Cartel de los Soles” originated in the 1990s, coined by Venezuelans to describe high-ranking officials involved in drug-trafficking. Over time, it expanded to include police and other illicit activities as corruption became more pervasive.
Will Freeman, an expert in Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, speculates that Maduro is likely aware of some military involvement with cocaine traffickers. However, Freeman clarifies, “But does that mean he is directing its movements and coordinating the drug flows? We have never had the information publicly to say.”
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to share footage purportedly showing U.S. military forces destroying alleged drug boats, further fueling the conversation around drug trafficking and international intervention.
Will Freeman, a fellow for Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said it was “very likely” Maduro was at least aware of some military complicity with cocaine traffickers.
“But does that mean he is directing its movements and coordinating the drug flows? We have never had the information publicly to say,” he said.
Terror designation follows months of strikes
Trump has been posting vision of alleged drug boats being destroyed by the US military. Source: Truth Social / Donald Trump
Sanctions experts, however, have said the statute for the designation does not authorise such a move.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth said the designation would bring “a whole bunch of new options to the United States,” in excerpts released on Thursday from an interview with One America News.
