In a week marked by escalating rhetoric and military maneuvering, tensions between the United States and Venezuela have reached a fever pitch, yet both sides appear determined to project strength without crossing the threshold into open conflict. The latest developments revolve around the U.S. government’s decision to designate the so-called Cartel de los Soles—a group Washington alleges is headed by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his senior officials—as a foreign terrorist organization. The designation, which took effect on November 24, 2025, has triggered a flurry of diplomatic, military, and public relations responses on both sides of the Caribbean.
On Friday, November 28, President Maduro was seen touring the bustling streets of Caracas, driving along the busy San Martin Boulevard. In footage shared widely across social media, Maduro made a point of highlighting the city’s open shops, flowing traffic, and the fully operational Caracas metro system. Holiday decorations adorned the streets, and the president’s tone was one of calm defiance. “Everything is fine, as you can see. Normal life continues,” Maduro remarked to his companions, gesturing toward a nearby metro station and a café. “Here we are on San Martin Boulevard. The Caracas metro is operating over there. That’s a nice cafe, I recommend it. The streets are dressed up with decorative lights ahead of the holidays.”
His public appearance was clearly intended to counter the narrative of a nation in crisis or a leader in hiding. When someone in his entourage joked, “But the whole world says you’re trembling with fear, hiding in tunnels, and never leaving your house,” Maduro responded with a broad smile: “Sending warm greetings to everyone from here, long live our homeland.” He added, “We are the children of Simon Bolivar,” invoking the legendary South American liberator’s legacy of resistance and independence.
The backdrop to Maduro’s tour is the U.S. designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist group, a move that has sharply increased diplomatic tensions. The U.S. accuses the group—reportedly led by Maduro and his top officials—of being a major drug trafficking network. The designation grants U.S. agencies additional legal authorities to pursue the group’s assets and associates, but it also carries significant symbolic weight, further isolating the Maduro government on the international stage.
Venezuela has flatly rejected the U.S. claims, accusing Washington of manufacturing a pretext for potential military intervention. In a direct response to the U.S. military buildup in the region, which includes the deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group, Maduro announced the mobilization of 4.5 million militia members. “The country is prepared to repel any aggression,” he declared, framing the mobilization as a patriotic defense against foreign interference.
On the American side, the logic and intent behind recent moves remain a subject of debate. Former U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton, a long-time hawk on Venezuela, offered a candid assessment in an interview with NTN24. He stated unequivocally that the designation of the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization does not signal imminent U.S. military intervention in Venezuela. “When an organization is designated as a foreign terrorist organization, it allows the use of certain legislative authority,” Bolton explained, “but there is still no consensus on whether the alleged group is really a cartel like the cartels in Mexico or a slogan of sorts.”
Pressed on whether the new designation could open the door to military operations, Bolton was dismissive: “No, I don’t think so. The Trump administration over the past years has been very confused, blurring the distinction between enforcing the law, on the one hand, and the abuse of military forces on the other.” According to Latin Times, Bolton described the current U.S. naval and aerial deployments—including the presence of the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group in the Caribbean—as temporary and largely routine. “The soldiers are enjoying the Caribbean and going for walks,” he said dryly. “They will be there a few days or a few weeks and then return. For them it will have been training and practice.”
Bolton also criticized what he sees as a lack of strategic coherence in the U.S. approach to Venezuela. “I think the planning has been very confused,” he stated, suggesting that the pressure campaign was intended to assist Venezuela’s opposition but has not produced tangible results. He noted that even the opposition “is as in the dark as the rest of us about what this is.”
Despite his reputation as a hardliner—he has previously argued that “overthrowing Nicolás Maduro is the only answer” for Venezuela’s future and regional security—Bolton now warns against the use of military force without a clear objective. “Military force should not be used without a big plan, with a clear objective,” he cautioned. “Otherwise it becomes simply a show.” He reiterated, “A force without a clear objective is not used.”
The U.S. military presence, then, appears to be more about signaling and readiness than preparing for an actual invasion. The deployment of the largest aircraft carrier in the U.S. fleet to Latin America has been justified under the pretext of combating drug trafficking, but as Bolton’s remarks make clear, there is skepticism even among Washington insiders about the real purpose and effectiveness of such moves.
Meanwhile, the Maduro government has seized the opportunity to rally domestic support. By showcasing normalcy in the capital and mobilizing a vast militia, Maduro aims to project an image of resilience and national unity. The government’s messaging is clear: Venezuela is not intimidated and will defend its sovereignty against any foreign threat, real or perceived.
For ordinary Venezuelans, the situation is fraught with uncertainty. The specter of U.S. intervention hangs over the country, even as daily life in Caracas continues with a mix of anxiety and defiance. Shops remain open, public transportation runs, and the city’s festive lights twinkle as the year draws to a close. Yet, beneath the surface, the possibility of escalation lingers, fueled by mutual distrust and a history of antagonism between Caracas and Washington.
As the standoff continues, both sides are playing to their respective audiences—Maduro to his domestic base and the broader Latin American region, the U.S. administration to its own political and strategic interests. Whether this latest round of brinkmanship will give way to dialogue or spiral into deeper confrontation remains to be seen. For now, the world watches as two adversaries test each other’s resolve, each determined not to blink first.
