Venezuela rejects US 'terrorist' designation of 'nonexistent' cartel

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Tuesday, November 25, 2025

25/11/2025

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a state-led civic-military event in the Petare neighborhood of Caracas, Venezuela on Nov 15. (AP)

CARACAS, Nov 25, (Xinhua): The Venezuelan government on Monday rejected US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's designation of the "nonexistent" Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist organization.

In a statement shared on social media by Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil, the government condemned the move as a "vile lie," accusing the United States of using it as a pretext to justify an "illegitimate and illegal intervention against Venezuela."

The statement urged the US government to rectify this policy of aggression and threats, adding that the Venezuelan people will know how to safeguard peace and the highest interests of the country. On Nov 16, Rubio announced that the U.S. Department of State intends to designate Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, effective on Nov 24.