US labels another Venezuelan group as terrorist, ramping up pressure

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro participates in an event with evangelical groups praying for peace, amid rising tensions with the U.S., at Miraflores Palace, in Caracas, Venezuela, November 18, 2025. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States on Monday formally designated Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization, layering additional terrorism-related sanctions on the group it has said includes President Nicolas Maduro and other high-ranking officials.

Venezuela's government rejected what it called a "ridiculous" U.S. plan to designate the "non-existent" group.