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The United States government has taken one of the most forceful steps in recent decades against Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

The State Department announced the designation of the Cartel of the Suns, a criminal structure directly linked to the Chavista apparatus, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), a measure that will take effect on November 24.

With this declaration, Washington formally places the Venezuelan regime in the category of a state enemy.

Until now, the Cartel of the Suns was listed only as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT), a classification primarily focused on enforcing financial sanctions.

But the FTO designation represents a qualitative leap: it allows the application of much stricter criminal, operational, and national security tools, including the possibility of prosecuting any individual or entity that provides material, financial, or logistical support to the cartel.

BREAKING: The State Department has designated "Cartel of the Suns," a criminal group headed by Venezuelan Socialist Dictator Nicolas Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization. This enables military strikes.

"Headed by the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro, the group has corrupted… pic.twitter.com/A9KPeonkiV

— George (@BehizyTweets) November 16, 2025

U.S. authorities maintain that the Cartel of the Suns operates under the direct leadership of Nicolás Maduro and key figures of the Chavista regime, who have allegedly transformed state institutions —such as the military, intelligence, judiciary, and legislature— into instruments serving narcoterrorism.

The accusation is unequivocal: a political regime transformed into a criminal organization with a state structure.

Washington also points out that the Cartel of the Suns maintains active alliances with international criminal networks and groups responsible for violence in the hemisphere.

These connections, according to the U.S. government, consolidate the terrorist nature of the Chavista apparatus, whose reach goes beyond Venezuelan borders.

The FTO designation has immediate repercussions. Any person or company collaborating with the cartel may face criminal charges, asset freezes, disqualification from operating in the U.S., and even deportation.

The U.S. government considers this measure as reinforcing national security, protecting American families, and preserving public order against external threats.

The strategic context in which this announcement is made is particularly delicate: the United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Caribbean and areas near Venezuela, which analysts interpret as building the legal framework prior to more forceful decisions.

The United States will designate the Venezuela-based Cartel of the Suns as a foreign terrorist organization in one week, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Sunday evening. https://t.co/mrqLP5uaEd

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) November 17, 2025

The FTO designation, by its nature, constitutes the last legal threshold before considering higher-intensity actions.

This move also exposes the responsibility of the international left, which for years has whitewashed, defended, or relativized the crimes of the Chavista regime under the rhetoric of anti-imperialism.

While millions of Venezuelans suffered institutional devastation, repression, and economic collapse, much of the global progressive movement justified the disaster as a “popular project.”

Today, the reality is undeniable: the model that some ideological sectors presented as an example of social justice is officially recognized as a terrorist structure.

Washington’s decision marks a before and after. It not only intensifies pressure on Maduro’s regime but also redefines its nature before the international community.

With this designation, the United States affirms its commitment to defending order, legitimate authority, national security, and traditional values against a regime that has fused political power with organized crime.

For Chavismo, this is the point closest to direct confrontation; for the West, a reaffirmation that tolerance of leftist authoritarianism has only served to strengthen those who now emerge as global threats.

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About The Author Rafa Gómez-Santos Martín

Rafael Santos is a Portuguese writer and political analyst dedicated to educating Hispanics on traditional values and the importance of protecting children and families. With years of experience in media and public discourse, he has been a strong advocate for cultural preservation and moral principles in an ever-changing world. Passionate about culture, sports, and current affairs, Rafael brings insightful analysis to political and social debates, striving to empower the Hispanic community with knowledge and a deeper understanding of the issues that shape their lives.