Changing this equation will require more than sanctions: it will demand international surveillance, intergovernmental cooperation, and a contingency plan to prevent the collapse of the Venezuelan economy, which could lead to a humanitarian crisis or regional instability. For TNA, it is crucial to emphasize that the designation of the 'Cartel of the Suns' as a terrorist organization marks a before and after: it is no longer just about isolated sanctions or diplomatic criticism, but about recognizing the Maduro regime as part of a state criminal network. Therefore, it is essential that this issue remains at the center of news coverage and the international agenda, with a critical focus on the Venezuelan regime and its multiple corrupt branches. In conclusion, the US strategy adds another piece to its Latin American board: by targeting the heart of power in Venezuela, it seeks to break Chavism from its economic-narcotics base and weaken its international maneuverability. In Venezuela, the regime has a military apparatus, armed militias, partial territorial control, and the support of clientelist networks. According to US official sources, the organization is 'under the supervision' of Maduro and regime military commanders, although independent experts warn that evidence of a formal hierarchy remains diffuse. Effective from November 24, 2025, the designation allows for freezing assets, prohibiting all forms of support for the cartel, adopting financial sanctions, and reinforcing the political argument that frames the Chavist regime as an international criminal actor. The immediate impact is multiple. Besides placing the innermost circle of power —including Diosdado Cabello and Vladimir Padrino López— in an international bind, the measure opens new legal, financial, and military options for the US. The Trump administration accuses the Cartel of the Suns, and by extension the Venezuelan state, of operating as a structured network of drug trafficking, money laundering, and alliances with terrorist organizations. Diplomatically, Venezuela reacted by calling the measure a 'ridiculous fabrication' designed to justify a military intervention. Strategically, the Pentagon warned that the designation 'will open a range of new options' for the US, which includes limited military actions against infrastructure linked to illicit trafficking. For Maduro and his inner circle, the impact is not just symbolic: the formal accusation as leaders of a terrorist cartel places the regime under the same label as international armed groups, which further complicates any type of direct negotiation and prolongs its global isolation. First, it increases the vulnerability of the Venezuelan state structure to international investigation; second, it boosts the US 'maximum pressure' strategy; and third, it could precipitate a possible internal fracture in Chavist power if the web of corruption and drug trafficking surrounding it begins to crumble under external legal punishment. However, the challenge for Washington will be to turn this 'terrorist' label into real impact. If the regime resists, tension will remain high; if not, we could be witnessing the prelude to a profound shift of power in Caracas.
