Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro has been dubbed the leader of a notorious drug cartel by US Senator Marco Rubio, in an effort to justify further economic sanctions on the country. But what exactly is this so-called "Cartel de los Soles" and can it even be said to exist?
The claim made by Rubio, and endorsed by the Trump administration's State Department, is that Maduro has formed a secret alliance with high-ranking Venezuelan military officers and politicians who are working in tandem with international drug traffickers. According to this narrative, these individuals have created a vast network of smuggling operations that export massive quantities of cocaine to American shores.
However, experts say that this claim bears little resemblance to reality. Phil Gunson, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, notes that "the idea that this is a narcoterrorist cartel, and that Maduro is directing the traffic and sending drugs and dangerous criminals to the U.S. to undermine the U.S. government — that's really wide of the mark."
In fact, Venezuela has never been a major producer of cocaine, and most of its cocaine exports are thought to be destined for European markets rather than the United States. Moreover, Rubio and his allies have failed to provide credible evidence to support their claims.
So what is behind this latest move by Trump's administration? Some analysts say that it represents an attempt to extend US interests in Latin America beyond counter-narcotics efforts into full-blown regime change operations. Alexander Aviña, a professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University, notes that "the war on drugs is not really about drugs." Rather, it's a way for the US government to exert its influence over foreign governments and shape regional security agendas.
Critics point out that this narrative also conveniently sidesteps the role of corruption and patronage in Venezuelan politics. José De Bastos, a Venezuelan journalist based in Washington, says that "it's pretty well known and accepted in Venezuela that the government has been collaborating with drug traffickers and other criminal organizations."
It seems unlikely that Maduro or his allies are secretly running a sophisticated smuggling network from the shadows. Instead, they appear to be profiting from the country's dire economic situation by extorting protection money and revenue from local crime lords.
The real Cartel de los Soles is not some shadowy cabal of government officials and military officers - it's the patchwork networks of corruption and crime that have taken hold in Venezuela's institutions. And if Rubio and his allies want to tackle this problem, they'd do better to focus on supporting genuine reforms rather than using discredited narratives about rogue officials and drug cartels.
Ultimately, what's at stake here is not just US policy towards Venezuela - but the future of press freedom itself. By promoting a false narrative about Maduro's alleged involvement in international organized crime, Rubio and his allies are helping to fuel misinformation that can be used to justify further authoritarian tactics.
As we continue to navigate this volatile landscape, it's essential for journalists like The Intercept to provide critical analysis and context - rather than simply repeating government spin.
The claim made by Rubio, and endorsed by the Trump administration's State Department, is that Maduro has formed a secret alliance with high-ranking Venezuelan military officers and politicians who are working in tandem with international drug traffickers. According to this narrative, these individuals have created a vast network of smuggling operations that export massive quantities of cocaine to American shores.
However, experts say that this claim bears little resemblance to reality. Phil Gunson, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, notes that "the idea that this is a narcoterrorist cartel, and that Maduro is directing the traffic and sending drugs and dangerous criminals to the U.S. to undermine the U.S. government — that's really wide of the mark."
In fact, Venezuela has never been a major producer of cocaine, and most of its cocaine exports are thought to be destined for European markets rather than the United States. Moreover, Rubio and his allies have failed to provide credible evidence to support their claims.
So what is behind this latest move by Trump's administration? Some analysts say that it represents an attempt to extend US interests in Latin America beyond counter-narcotics efforts into full-blown regime change operations. Alexander Aviña, a professor of Latin American history at Arizona State University, notes that "the war on drugs is not really about drugs." Rather, it's a way for the US government to exert its influence over foreign governments and shape regional security agendas.
Critics point out that this narrative also conveniently sidesteps the role of corruption and patronage in Venezuelan politics. José De Bastos, a Venezuelan journalist based in Washington, says that "it's pretty well known and accepted in Venezuela that the government has been collaborating with drug traffickers and other criminal organizations."
It seems unlikely that Maduro or his allies are secretly running a sophisticated smuggling network from the shadows. Instead, they appear to be profiting from the country's dire economic situation by extorting protection money and revenue from local crime lords.
The real Cartel de los Soles is not some shadowy cabal of government officials and military officers - it's the patchwork networks of corruption and crime that have taken hold in Venezuela's institutions. And if Rubio and his allies want to tackle this problem, they'd do better to focus on supporting genuine reforms rather than using discredited narratives about rogue officials and drug cartels.
Ultimately, what's at stake here is not just US policy towards Venezuela - but the future of press freedom itself. By promoting a false narrative about Maduro's alleged involvement in international organized crime, Rubio and his allies are helping to fuel misinformation that can be used to justify further authoritarian tactics.
As we continue to navigate this volatile landscape, it's essential for journalists like The Intercept to provide critical analysis and context - rather than simply repeating government spin.
. It feels like they're trying to justify some serious regime change actions over there. I mean, experts are saying it's all pretty baseless... but what's the real motive behind this? Is it just about controlling Venezuela or is there something more going on?
. The 'war on drugs' feels like a convenient excuse for some deeper stuff. And have you seen the state of Venezuela? It's like they're just taking advantage of the situation to line their own pockets 
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. What does he want, exactly? Is it about the economy or something else entirely?
Rubio's claims just sound like more of the same old hype. Like, what's the real motive here? Is it really about counter-narcotics or is it something more... complex? 
The fact that Trump's administration is backing this claim only proves they're more interested in regime change than actually addressing real issues.
It's like they're trying to rewrite history and justify their own authoritarian tactics.
They're the ones causing real harm, not some shadowy cabal of officials.
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. Where are the sources? What evidence does he have that this "Cartel de los Soles" even exists? It sounds like a convenient narrative to justify more economic sanctions and regime change operations. And let's not forget, Venezuela has never been a major producer of cocaine, so it's probably just a case of US politics as usual 
. I need to see some real proof before I believe this story. The war on drugs is indeed about power and influence, not just about stopping the flow of illicit goods. Rubio's using this as an excuse to get involved in Venezuelan affairs without giving much thought to the actual issues facing the country. And what really gets my goat is that he's essentially demonizing Maduro and his allies, without giving them a chance to explain themselves. Transparency and fact-checking are essential here, folks! 