Overview
- State Department plans to add the so‑called Cartel de los Soles to the Foreign Terrorist Organizations list as soon as Monday, with Washington alleging Nicolás Maduro and senior allies lead it and specialists questioning whether it is a formal cartel.
- Four U.S. officials told Reuters a new phase of operations could begin within days, with covert actions likely to be the first step, though timing and scope remain undecided.
- The Pentagon’s buildup includes the Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group and recent B‑52 bombing exercises in the Caribbean, following more than 20 strikes on small vessels since September that reporting says killed about 83 people.
- After an FAA warning about increased military activity, six carriers—Iberia, TAP, Avianca, Caribbean Airlines, GOL, and Latam—suspended flights to Venezuela.
- Caracas rejects the U.S. accusations and stays on military alert, as Brazil’s Lula seeks direct talks with President Trump and Spain’s Pedro Sánchez calls for adherence to international law and a peaceful resolution.