U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that for the first time in decades, the U.S. government is “on the offensive” against these structures and emphasized the building of an international coalition to confront what he described as “a scourge” for the region.
In a cabinet meeting of President Donald Trump at theWhite House, Rubio asserted that “the purpose is not only to stop the entry of narcotics, but to take this battle to the international stage to confront those behind this deadly poison”.
Nicolás Maduro acusó a Javier Milei de mandarle 'trolls' para atacar a su régimen
The official highlighted that the initiative has the cooperation of countries such as Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago, which have expressed their willingness to collaborate in joint actions against drug trafficking.
Washington accuses the Cartel de los Soles of operating as an extension of the Venezuelan state, with support from high-ranking military officials and individuals linked to Chavismo. According to the U.S. administration, this organization channels drugs to the U.S. market and represents a direct threat to its national security.
This move, authorities indicated, is part of efforts to hinder the operations of “narcoterrorist groups” linked to Maduro's regime.
Despliegue militar de Estados Unidos en las costas de Venezuela.
Caracas's response was immediate. Maduro announced the mobilization of 4.5 million militia members, a civilian force under the orbit of the Armed Forces, with the aim of countering what he called “threats” coming from Washington.
Meanwhile, the Argentine government led by Javier Milei moved forward this Tuesday in the same direction as the United States. The Ministry of Security formalized the inclusion of the Cartel de los Soles in the Public Registry of Persons and Entities Linked to Acts of Terrorism and Their Financing (RePET).
With this measure, Argentina aligns itself with the U.S. strategy by considering the Venezuelan organization a transnational criminal structure that requires coordinated responses in terms of security and international cooperation.
