A Contested Designation

WASHINGTON D.C. – The United States government on Monday, November 24, 2025, officially designated the ‘Cartel de los Soles’ (Cartel of the Suns) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). U.S. officials allege this network operates within the highest levels of the Venezuelan state, led by President Nicolás Maduro and senior military figures, to facilitate large-scale drug trafficking and engage in terrorism. The designation, announced by the U.S. Department of State, grants American law enforcement and military agencies expanded powers to target the group’s finances, assets, and members. It is now illegal for any U.S. person to knowingly provide “material support or resources” to the group, and its members are barred from entering the United States.

According to the U.S. Treasury and State Departments, the cartel has corrupted Venezuela’s military, judiciary, and other state institutions to smuggle hundreds of tonnes of cocaine into the United States and Europe. Washington also accuses the group of collaborating with other designated terrorist organizations, including the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua and Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa Cartel. This action follows a July 2025 decision by the U.S. Treasury to label the Cartel de los Soles as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.

Venezuela’s Vehement Denial

The Venezuelan government has forcefully rejected the designation, dismissing the very existence of the cartel. In a statement issued on Monday, November 24, 2025, Foreign Minister Yván Gil called the U.S. move a “new and ridiculous lie” and a “ridiculous fabrication.” Caracas contends the accusation is a pretext for an “illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela” as part of a long-standing U.S. campaign for regime change. High-ranking Venezuelan officials, such as Diosdado Cabello, who is also accused by the U.S. of involvement, have long maintained the cartel is an “invention” used by Washington to target its political adversaries.

A ‘System of Corruption,’ Not a Cartel?

The term ‘Cartel de los Soles’ originated in the 1990s, referring to the sun insignias on the uniforms of Venezuelan generals allegedly involved in drug running. However, international security analysts and investigative bodies question the U.S. portrayal of the group as a traditionally structured, hierarchical cartel. Organizations like InSight Crime, which studies organized crime in Latin America, describe it less as a formal group and more as a decentralized “system of widespread corruption” where state officials profit from collaborating with drug traffickers. This view suggests a network of corrupt actors rather than a single, unified command structure under President Maduro.

Furthermore, reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) appear to contradict the U.S. narrative of Venezuela as a major narco-state. The 2025 UNODC World Drug Report indicated that Venezuela is a marginal player in the global drug trade, with only about 5% of Colombian cocaine transiting through its territory. Pino Arlacchi, a former UNODC chief, has publicly called the Cartel de los Soles a “myth” and a “product of Trump’s imagination,” noting its absence from major anti-drug agency reports. The European Union’s 2025 drug report also does not mention Venezuela as a significant corridor for narcotics entering Europe.

Implications for Kenya and East Africa

While the designation has no direct, immediate legal impact on Kenya, it places Nairobi in a delicate diplomatic position. Kenya and Venezuela have maintained diplomatic relations since 1970 and have recently sought to strengthen them. In April 2025, discussions were held in Nairobi to establish a Kenya-Venezuela Parliamentary Friendship Group to enhance bilateral dialogue. This U.S. action against the Venezuelan leadership introduces a new layer of complexity to these diplomatic engagements.

The broader context for East Africa is significant. The region, including Kenya, is a known transit hub for cocaine originating from South America and destined for Europe and other markets. Reports from organizations like the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime confirm that increasing volumes of cocaine arrive in Kenya and neighboring countries via maritime routes. The U.S. designation, part of a wider strategy to counter narcotics flow, underscores the global nature of drug trafficking networks that directly impact the security landscape of East Africa. Kenyan authorities have not issued a public statement on the designation as of Tuesday, November 25, 2025.