The Trump administration’s decision to label a Venezuelan-linked narcotics network as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) has opened the door to significantly expanded U.S. military options, according to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
On November 16, 2025, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Cartel de los Soles, a group Washington claims is tied directly to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, will be formally designated as a terrorist organization. The move, effective Monday, makes it a federal crime for anyone in the United States to provide material support to the group.
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Speaking in an interview with One America News, Hegseth said the designation “brings a whole bunch of new options to the United States,” noting that the Pentagon now has broader legal authority when responding to threats linked to terrorism. Portions of the interview were released Thursday ahead of its full broadcast.
Hegseth also repeated longstanding U.S. accusations that Maduro is involved in narcotics trafficking and declared the Venezuelan leader “not a legitimately elected president.” Maduro has consistently denied any ties to drug trafficking or criminal networks.
Potential Military Implications
With the FTO label, U.S. officials now say they have enhanced ability to target the financial, logistical, and operational assets of the group, whether inside or outside Venezuelan borders. When asked whether the designation could permit U.S. strikes against Maduro’s assets or infrastructure, Trump acknowledged:
“It allows us to do that, but we haven’t said we’re going to do that.”
Despite escalating tensions, Trump has also said he remains open to potential talks with Maduro.
U.S. Claims of Criminal Links
Washington alleges that the Cartel de los Soles works closely with Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang already designated as a foreign terrorist organization last year, to traffic narcotics across Latin America and into the United States.
U.S. officials claim Maduro is the leader of the cartel, an accusation the Venezuelan president strongly rejects.
Military Buildup Heightens Regional Tension
The designation comes amid an unprecedented U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
- The U.S. Navy’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, is now stationed in the region.
- It is accompanied by at least eight other warships, F-35 fighter jets, and a nuclear-powered submarine.
- U.S. forces have conducted at least 21 strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels, killing 83 people.
Human rights groups have condemned the strikes as extrajudicial killings, warning that the U.S. may be carrying out lethal operations outside the bounds of international law. Several U.S. allies have expressed discomfort over the pace and scope of military actions.
Maduro Denounces “Regime Change” Efforts
Maduro has repeatedly insisted that the U.S. military buildup is part of a broader strategy to remove him from power. In August, the U.S. government doubled its reward for information leading to his arrest, from $25 million to $50 million, citing alleged drug trafficking ties.
The Trump administration’s latest move further escalates a standoff already marked by aggressive rhetoric, increased military activity, and deepening diplomatic fractures.
