Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro. © Getty Images / Carlos Becerra/Anadol Agency
The State Department has announced that the United States plans to recognise the Venezuelan Soles Kartel, which they say is headed by president Nicolas Maduro as a terrorist organization. According to the statement, designation will enter into force on November 24.
Trump has long accused Maduro of ties to the cartel, calling it “drug-terrorist’.
Despite Maduro's denial, Washington sent a naval fleet to the West Caribbean early this year, and since September US forces have been attacking alleged drug smuggling ships close Venezuela.
US officials besides claim Trump is considering attacks on cartel targets in the country.
The State Department repeated on Sunday the claim that the Soles cartel is in charge ‘illegal’ president Maduro and high-ranking Venezuelan officials.
Added: ‘Neither Maduro nor his friends represent the legitimate government of Venezuela’, accusing them of corrupting the institutions of the country, directing "Terrorist force throughout our hemisphere" and drug trafficking into the US and Europe.
Trump said that the designation would let the U.S. Army to attack cartel assets—and hence Maduro—and infrastructure in Venezuela. “Lets us do it” – told Trump reporters on Sunday.
However, he added that "we did not say we would do it," noting that the United States "They can talk to Maduro first". "They would like to talk... see how this ends."
Trump has not developed the subject of possible talks. It is unclear why he said the designation would let attacks if he did not let attacks without separate permission.
Maduro rejected the allegations and expansion of the armed forces as an effort to overthrow it, while calling Trump to negotiate.
In September, he sent a letter to the White House, in which he stated that Venezuela had crashed drug networks, offering direct talks.
Trump did not respond, although the White home claimed the letter contained “Many lies.”
Translated by Google Translator
source:https://www.rt.com/news/627876-us-cartel-venezuela-terrorist/
