U.S. Designates Venezuela’s ‘Cartel de los Soles’ a Foreign Terrorist Organization

Overview

• Venezuela formally rejected the label as a fabrication and accused Washington of seeking a pretext for intervention.
• The White House said strikes on narcotrafficking vessels will continue, with about 21 attacks since September resulting in roughly 83 deaths.
• U.S. forces reinforced the region with the USS Gerald R. Ford and other assets as Joint Chiefs chair Dan Caine visited Puerto Rico and regional exercises proceeded.
• An FAA safety notice led airlines to cancel flights to and from Venezuela due to increased military activity and security risks.
• Trump is reported to be exploring a phone call with Nicolás Maduro, while experts dispute that the ‘Cartel de los Soles’ is a centralized cartel and the U.S. maintains a $50 million reward and authorized CIA operations.