Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, a prominent voice of the Havana regime, asserted on Monday that the so-called "Cartel of the Suns"—a criminal network allegedly tied to the Venezuelan military elite according to various reports and investigations—is a "fabrication by the United States government."
In a post on his X account, Rodríguez accused Washington and its Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, of creating this term for geopolitical purposes.
"The Cartel of the Suns is an invention by the U.S. government and its Secretary of State to justify violent actions aimed at overthrowing the Venezuelan government by force and seizing the oil of our brother nation," he stated.
Condemning U.S. "Gunboat Diplomacy"
The Cuban foreign minister described the designation of the alleged cartel as a "fraudulent, arbitrary, and unilateral action," claiming it to be a "fetish concocted by U.S. intelligence services."
Rodríguez argued in his post that this narrative seeks to "justify military aggressions against Latin America and the Caribbean and return to gunboat diplomacy," a term frequently used by the Cuban regime to denounce what it perceives as U.S. interventionism.
Backdrop of Venezuelan Tensions
Rodríguez's statements come at a time when the United States maintains severe sanctions against Nicolás Maduro's regime and has repeatedly pointed to high-ranking Venezuelan officials' involvement in drug trafficking, corruption, and organized crime networks.
The term "Cartel of the Suns" has been used for over a decade to describe alleged criminal activities within the Venezuelan Armed Forces. However, Havana insists it is a political construct aimed at delegitimizing Maduro's government, one of its key international allies.
U.S. Takes Formal Action
The United States government has officially designated Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and several top officials of his regime as members of an international terrorist organization by including the Cartel of the Suns on the State Department's list.
This official notification was made on November 24 in the Federal Register. This measure provides Washington with "new tools" to expand its military campaign in the Caribbean, where the world's largest aircraft carrier, the Gerald Ford, leads Operation Southern Spear.
The U.S. fleet, consisting of over 15,000 troops and F-35 fighters, has already destroyed numerous drug smuggling boats in recent bombings.
While Donald Trump has not confirmed imminent actions, sources cited by Reuters suggest that the second phase of the military operation will begin soon, potentially involving covert missions in Venezuela.
The State Department accuses Maduro of heading the Cartel of the Suns, a network of military and officials tied to drug trafficking. This designation freezes their assets and international transactions and could pave the way for more aggressive operations.
Washington maintains that its goal is to combat drug trafficking, but in Caracas, there are fears it could be a precursor to an offensive aimed at toppling the Chavista leader.
Understanding the "Cartel of the Suns" Allegations
What is the Cartel of the Suns?
The Cartel of the Suns is a term used to describe an alleged criminal network within the Venezuelan military, reportedly involved in drug trafficking and organized crime.
Why does Bruno Rodríguez claim it is a U.S. fabrication?
Bruno Rodríguez claims the term is a U.S. invention designed to justify military interventions and undermine Venezuela's government for geopolitical reasons.
What are the implications of the U.S. designation of the Cartel of the Suns?
The designation allows the U.S. to freeze assets and transactions of those involved and could lead to more forceful actions against the Maduro regime.