Venezuela rejects US ‘terrorist’ label for ‘nonexistent’ Cartel de los Soles

The United States on Monday formally designated Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organisation, layering additional terrorism-related sanctions on the group it has said includes Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking officials.

Venezuela’s government rejected what it called a “ridiculous” US plan to designate the “non-existent” group.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier this month his country would announce the designation as a foreign terrorist organisation for its alleged role in importing illegal drugs into the US.

Maduro faces escalating pressure from US President Donald Trump’s massive US military build-up in the Caribbean, raising concerns that the US may seek to use the designation to justify military action. Sanctions experts, however, have said the statute for the designation does not authorise such a move.

Maduro alleges US seeking regime change

Maduro and his government have always denied any involvement in crime and have accused the US of seeking regime change because of a desire to control Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.