Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted at an escalation against Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro, saying actions could go beyond a hefty reward for information that could lead to his arrest.
"They are calling him a dictator because he is. He is the head of a drug-trafficking logistics organization, the Cartel of the Suns, which is basically run by the military," Rubio said.
#ÚLTIMAHORA Marco Rubio advirtió que al régimen "narcoterrorista" de Maduro hay que enfrentarlo "con algo más que recompensas" https://t.co/XVPrzRIoj6 pic.twitter.com/3fb1cc8hCC
— Monitoreamos (@monitoreamos) August 12, 2025
The official went on to say that "they basically allow drug dealers not just to move drugs through Venezuela, but also to use military facilities." "It's like a drug cartel took control of a national territory. They need to be treated for what it is: a narco-terrorist regime that has empowered itself on Venezuelan territory."
Consequently, Rubio said that "at some point we have to take these people on with more than just rewards." Last week, Attorney General Pam Bondi raised the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million, saying he "will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes."
She also noted that the Justice Department has seized over $700 million in assets linked to Maduro, including private jets, and traced nearly 7 tons of cocaine directly to him.
The development came as President Donald Trump reportedly approved the use of military force against Latin American cartels designated as terrorist organizations, which could open the door to attacking Maduro, considering the administration designated the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles to the list of global terrorist group, claiming Maduro and other high-ranking officials lead the cartel.
Maduro issued a warning of his own to the Trump administration shortly after. Joined by political leaders and army chiefs, Maduro said "don't you dare." "Don't you dare because the answer can be the end of the U.S. empire. Leave alone those who are alone. I am a man of peace," he added.
Army Chief Domingo Hernandez Larez, on his end, said the armed forces keep "expressing their support to you as our commander-in-chief." "When they offer a reward for you in the style of a Hollywood western, the armed forces consider themselves offended," he added.
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