
What is Cartel de los Soles, the drug trafficking organisation at the centre of US-Venezuela tensions?
US plans to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) from November 24, 2025. Designation allows US to target Maduro's assets and infrastructure, increasing tensions between the US and Venezuela. US has increased military presence in the Caribbean, conducting strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels linked to Venezuela.