The Venezuelan regime rejected the designation of the Cartel de los Soles, which the U.S. accuses authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro and other top officials of leading, as a terrorist organization.
The regime called the designation a "new and ridiculous lie from Secretary of State Marco Rubio," claiming that it is an "infamous a vile lie to justify an illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela under the classic U.S. format of regime change."
#AHORA | La tiranía de Maduro rechaza la designación del Cártel de los Soles como una Organización Terrorista Internacional por parte de EEUU:
— Orlando Avendaño (@OrlvndoA) November 24, 2025
Es “una infame y vil mentira para justificar una intervención”.
No menciona a Donald Trump sino a Marco Rubio. pic.twitter.com/9L6M5xPzdh
"This new maneuver will face the same fate as the previous and recurring aggressions against our country: it will fail," the release adds.
The document goes on to claim the move is wasting the regime's time, but, "fortunately, the Venezuelan people are more united and cohesive than ever, going about national life in all its dimension and on its way to Christmas festivities."
"Once again our people, in perfect popular, police and military union will know how to safeguard peace and the high interests of our Republic. And with the Liberator Simon Bolivar we say out loud: Peace will by my port, my glory, my reward, my hope, my bliss and all that is precious in this world," the release concludes.
The designation in question went into effect on Monday, potentially paving the way for military strikes in the country.
The designation was published in the Federal Register on Monday and officializes the announcement made by the State Department the week prior.
"Based upon a review of the Administrative Record assembled in this matter, and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, I have concluded that there is a sufficient factual basis to find that the relevant circumstances described in section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, exist with respect to: Cartel de los Soles (also known as Cartel of the Suns)," reads a passage of the publication.
Moreover, Trump has has reportedly authorized CIA plans for covert operations inside the South American country.
The New York Times detailed that such operations could pave the way for further action against the Venezuelan regime. It is not clear what the options are or when they could be carried out.
However, since Trump has not yet authorized combat forces on the ground, the next phase could be sabotage or cyber, psychological or information operations. In fact, other outlets reported during the weekend that Washington D.C. considered dropping leaflets in Venezuela showing the $50 million reward the U.S. is offering for information that could lead to the capture of authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro.
At the same time, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is set to visit the Caribbean on Monday. Citing two people familiar with the matter, the NYT added that the stated reason for the trip of Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is thanking troops ahead of Thanksgiving.
However, the outlet added, Caine was key in developing Operation Southern Spear, the largest buildup of forces in the region since the Cuban Missile Crisis, and which has seen more than 20 strikes against alleged drug vessels that have so far killed over 80 people.
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