US Designates Venezuelan Cartel as Terrorist Group

US Designates Venezuelan Cartel as Terrorist Group
Above: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Department of State in Washington on Nov. 13, 2025. Image credit: Celal Gunes/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

America is finally taking decisive action against the Venezuelan narco-state by designating Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization. This criminal network, led by illegitimate dictator Maduro and his cronies, has corrupted Venezuela's entire government while flooding American streets with deadly drugs. The designation gives America the tools needed to protect national security and deny resources to these narco-terrorists.

Establishment-critical narrative

The U.S. has provided no evidence that Cartel de los Soles actually exists as described or that Maduro leads drug trafficking operations. Experts question whether this alleged cartel is real, noting it's merely a journalistic term for scattered corruption. The strikes have killed over 80 people without proof they were traffickers, amounting to extrajudicial killings in international waters.

Metaculus Prediction



The Controversies



Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.1

© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.18.1