The U.S. has escalated pressure on Venezuela by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. However, the group the U.S. alleges is led by Nicolãs Maduro is not technically a cartel, and the administration has not provided specific supporting evidence. Will Freeman, a fellow in Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, explains how this designation differs from other cartels.

​The U.S. has escalated pressure on Venezuela by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. However, the group the U.S. alleges is led by Nicolãs Maduro is not technically a cartel, and the administration has not provided specific supporting evidence. Will Freeman, a fellow in Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, explains how this designation differs from other cartels.