What is Cartel de los Soles and is this conflict about drugs or Venezuela’s vast oil reserves?
What is Cartel de los Soles and is this conflict about drugs or Venezuela’s vast oil reserves? The question sits at the centre of a wider geopolitical struggle. Venezuela holds major oil reservesyet exports remain low. At the same time, the US accuses officials of running drug routes. These overlapping issues now shape regional security and diplomatic tensions.
Venezuela’s oil reserves and limited production
What is Cartel de los Soles and is this conflict about drugs or Venezuela’s vast oil reserves? The conflict sits within a larger debate about resources and power. Venezuela holds the largest known oil reserves in the world. These reserves are estimated at 303 billion barrels as of 2023. Yet its oil export levels remain far below leading exporters. Data from the Observatory of Economic Complexity shows Venezuela exported crude worth $4.05bn in 2023. This falls far below Saudi Arabia at $181bn, the United States at $125bn, and Russia at $122bn.
Most of Venezuela’s oil lies in the Orinoco Belt. It covers about 55,000sq km in the eastern region. The crude here is extra heavy. It is dense and thick. Extraction needs complex processes. These include steam injection and blending with lighter crude. These steps make the oil fit for transport and sale.
Venezuela has about 28.4 million people. It is the 53rd most populous country. By land, Venezuela covers 916,445sq km. It is the 32nd-largest country globally and the sixth-largest in South America. Its size is close to Nigeria or Pakistan. It is about 1.5 times larger than Texas.
How the term Cartel de los Soles emerged?
What is Cartel de los Soles and is this conflict about drugs or Venezuela’s vast oil reserves? The phrase refers to a network connected to corruption, not a structured cartel. According to InsightCrime, the name surfaced in the 1990s. At that time, senior military officers faced investigations for drug trafficking. Over the years, corruption spread. This happened first under President Hugo Chavez and later under President Nicolas Maduro. The term expanded to cover police officers and government officials. It also came to include illegal mining and fuel trafficking. The name “suns” refers to the symbols on high-ranking military uniforms. These symbols resemble suns. The term does not describe a formal drug cartel. Still, the US government uses it to frame its allegations.
US designation and allegations
On November 16, the US Department of State declared Cartel de los Soles a “foreign terrorist organization”. The US claims the group operates under Maduro. The Venezuelan leader rejects this. The US also alleges that Cartel de los Soles and the Tren de Aragua gang run drug-trafficking routes. These routes extend to the US and Europe.
The designation opens pathways for further actions. It may offer legal grounds for US intervention. It also raises the stakes in diplomatic exchanges.
US patrols and military buildup
US aircraft are now patrolling international airspace near Venezuela. US officials say these flights support counternarcotics operations. The Washington Post reported that US aircraft are “constantly” present near Venezuelan airspace.
President Trump said Venezuelan airspace should be seen as “closed”. He added no further details. Analysts say this could signal air strikes. Others say it is a move to pressure Maduro to negotiate.
Ten thousand US soldiers are deployed on 10 warships in the southern Caribbean. The fleet includes a nuclear submarine, destroyers and a missile cruiser. This represents the largest US military buildup in the region in many years.
CIA involvement and threats of land operations
Reports say US air strikes on suspected drug boats have already taken place. Covert CIA operations have also begun. Trump said land operations could start soon. He said these actions aim to stop Venezuelan drug traffickers.
President Maduro says the US wants to remove him. He says Venezuelans will resist. For now, US forces continue counternarcotics operations. Their capacity, however, suggests they may be preparing for more than that.
FAQs
1. What is Cartel de los Soles and how does it relate to the US Venezuela conflict?
Cartel de los Soles is a term for corrupt officials in Venezuela linked to drug and illegal trade activities. The US uses this claim to justify pressure, sanctions and potential military actions.
2. Is this conflict about drugs or Venezuela’s vast oil reserves?
The US frames the conflict around drugs. Venezuela says the dispute connects to its large oil reserves. Analysts say both elements influence the growing tensions.