In a significant escalation of tensions between the United States and Venezuela, the Trump administration has officially labeled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his associates as members of a foreign terrorist organization. This designation targets the so-called ‘Cartel de los Soles,’ a term used to describe alleged corrupt Venezuelan officials, though it is not formally recognized as a criminal group. The move grants the U.S. government broader authority to impose stringent sanctions and explore expanded military options within Venezuela. As part of ‘Operation Southern Spear,’ the U.S. has already deployed warships and thousands of troops to the region, with recent bomber and fighter jet flights conducted near Venezuela’s coastline. Maduro has vehemently denied any involvement in drug trafficking and dismissed the existence of the cartel. Meanwhile, Reuters reported that three international airlines canceled flights departing Venezuela over the weekend following a U.S. Federal Aviation Administration warning about ‘potentially hazardous’ airspace. Despite the heightened tensions, both leaders have hinted at a possible willingness to engage in future talks, with Trump stating he might speak with Maduro ‘at a certain time.’