President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to engage in direct talks with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, signaling a potential shift in US policy toward the nation. This move follows recent weeks of heightened military operations, including US airstrikes on boats off the Venezuelan coast that have resulted in at least 80 fatalities. In addition to these actions, the US Treasury has officially labeled the ‘Cartel of the Suns’ as a foreign terrorist organization, placing it in the same category as groups like Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The designation of the cartel, alleged to operate within Venezuela’s security services, reinforces longstanding US allegations that Maduro is the head of the organization.
The reported move could follow weeks of US “narcoterrorism” strikes on boats off the Venezuelan coast that have killed about 80. According to Axios, Trump’s move marks a notable turn in his “gunboat diplomacy” toward Venezuela and could indicate that US missile strikes or ground operations are unlikely in the near term. An anonymous official familiar with the matter told Axios, “Nobody is planning to go in and shoot him or snatch him – at this point. I wouldn’t say never, but that’s not the plan right now.” The official added, “In the meantime, we’re going to blow up boats shipping drugs. We’re going to stop the drug trafficking.” No date has been set for a potential call between Trump and Maduro, which is “in the planning stages,” according to another US official.
Caracas has denounced the US military buildup as a violation of its sovereignty and an attempted coup, putting its forces on high alert. Maduro, meanwhile, has said Venezuela is prepared for “face-to-face” talks with Washington. The term ‘Cartel of the Suns’ emerged in the 1990s as a media label for alleged corruption among Venezuelan officers who wore sun-shaped insignia. In 2020, the US indicted Maduro and 14 current or former officials on drug-trafficking and organized-crime charges, alleging they collectively ran the cartel. Maduro has repeatedly denied the drug trafficking allegations and warned the US against launching “a crazy war.” Trump has also reportedly greenlighted a range of measures to pressure Venezuela and prepare for a possible broader military campaign, including covert CIA operations targeting Maduro’s government.