US Escalates Pressure on Venezuela: Cartel Designation and Caribbean Military Buildup

Geopolitical tensions in the Caribbean Sea reached a critical juncture by November 25, 2025, driven by a significant escalation between the United States and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This heightened friction involves a substantial increase in US military presence across the region, coupled with a major legal action: the designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), which officially took effect on November 24, 2025.

The primary focus of US military maneuvers is concentrated in the Caribbean waters adjacent to Venezuela. This deployment is reportedly the largest military buildup since the 1989 US invasion of Panama. A pivotal moment in this escalation was the US State Department’s decision, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, to officially label the Cartel de los Soles an FTO. Washington alleges that this organization, purportedly controlled by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials, has deeply corrupted the nation’s military, intelligence, legislative, and judicial branches.

The US government further asserts that the Cartel de los Soles collaborates with transnational criminal groups, specifically naming Mexico’s Sinaloa Cartel and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, to facilitate the trafficking of narcotics into the United States and Europe. Caracas vehemently denies these assertions, dismissing them as a "ludicrous fabrication." Venezuela views the US actions as a direct and unacceptable threat to regional peace and stability.

Under the operational codename Operation Southern Spear, the US military campaign has already yielded tangible, albeit controversial, results. Since September 2025, American forces have executed no fewer than 21 maritime strikes against suspected drug vessels. Reports indicate that these operations have resulted in the deaths of 83 individuals, drawing sharp condemnation from the Venezuelan government. In direct response to the increased US military posture, which includes the arrival of a carrier strike group led by the USS Gerald R. Ford, President Nicolás Maduro has ordered the mobilization of 25,000 military personnel to safeguard national sovereignty. This represents one of the most significant mobilization efforts in Venezuela’s recent history.

Regional neighbors find themselves in a precarious balancing act. The Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, welcomed the presence of American naval assets, a move that immediately strained relations with Caracas. In retaliation, Venezuela suspended existing energy agreements with the island nation. Consequently, Trinidad and Tobago’s defense forces have been placed on high alert. The nation’s vital fishing industry has already felt the pinch, reporting a decline in catches exceeding 50 percent due to widespread apprehension regarding potential US military operations near their waters.

The roots of this current crisis trace back to the political fallout following the presidential election held on July 28, 2024. Although Maduro secured victory, the opposition and several international entities, including the US, refused to recognize the results, instead favoring opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who took office in January 2025, has noticeably sharpened the US focus on Latin America. This comprehensive escalation—encompassing military maneuvers, legal sanctions, and diplomatic pressure—signals a clear shift in US strategy from mere containment toward more assertive intervention in the Caribbean basin.