The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has rejected the United States’ declaration of the so-called Cartel of the Suns as a terrorist organization, which came into force this Monday. In a statement, he defined as “ridiculous” the “new hoax” of the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, of defining the “non-existent Cartel de los Soles” organization as terrorist. They also warn that this is a ploy to justify military intervention “according to the classic American format of regime change.”
Chavismo predicts that Washington’s pressure strategy, which has already included three months of mobilization of naval and air military equipment against Venezuela, will not have results. “This new maneuver will follow the fate of previous and recurring attacks against our country: failure”, we read in the statement, which reiterates that with the “perfect popular, police and military union” peace in the country will be safeguarded.
“It is foolish for the Venezuelan government to waste part of its precious government time having to respond to these infamies and slanders. Fortunately, the Venezuelan people are more united and cohesive than ever, attentive to national life in all its dimensions and in line with the Christmas holidays.” add text.
The Maduro government urged the Trump administration to rectify this “irregular policy of aggression and threats” rejected, he said, by the North American people themselves and which “affects the development of the population of the Caribbean and does not contribute in any way to a real and genuine fight against illicit drug trafficking.”
For months now, Washington has begun a crusade against drug cartels, also targeting the leader of Chavismo, Nicolás Maduro. The United States has indicated that the Venezuelan president heads the Cartel of the Suns, as Venezuela’s military corruption networks that allegedly facilitate drug trafficking and other illicit activities have been called for decades. They also point out that he is linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, which he says has invaded the country.
Venezuela, for its part, categorically denies the accusations. Last July, the Treasury Department had already sanctioned the Cartel of the Suns and placed it on the list of terrorist organizations, which implies the freezing of assets. Now the State Department is doing it, which expands the scope of actions the Trump administration can take and further complicates the relationship of the American people and companies with Venezuela.
The designation was preceded by a warning from the United States Air Force due to heightened military activity in Venezuelan airspace that has led at least seven international airlines to cancel their flights to and from the South American country since Saturday. This Monday, pages that monitor flights show that Venezuelan territory is almost completely clear of planes.
