GOP Sen. Bernie Moreno Says Maduro Regime 'Meets the Legal Standards' for State Sponsor of Terrorism Over Hezbollah Ties

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) said Venezuela's authoritarian government under Nicolás Maduro "meets the legal standard" to be designated a state sponsor of terrorism, citing its cooperation with Iran and alleged ties to Hezbollah's criminal networks in Latin America.

Speaking during a Senate hearing on the International Narcotics Control Caucus, Moreno said the Maduro regime's long-standing involvement with Hezbollah-linked activities "poses a direct threat to U.S. national security" and called on Washington to respond accordingly. "Maduro should know his days are numbered," he said, predicting that "the United States will move to free Venezuela."

The remarks came as U.S. experts and lawmakers warned that Hezbollah is increasingly relying on its overseas financial networks — particularly in Venezuela — as sanctions and economic pressure weaken its support from Iran, as Fox News reports.

Analyst Matthew Levitt told senators that the group "has a long history of turning to its diaspora networks when it's facing financial stress," noting that Venezuela has become a key point of expansion.

Former Treasury official Marshall Billingslea previously testified that Venezuela had issued thousands of passports to individuals from Syria, Lebanon, and Iran, some with ties to Hezbollah and Hamas. He described the country as "a willing safe haven for one of the most dangerous terrorist organizations to the United States."

Lawmakers from both parties, including Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), expressed concern that Hezbollah's integration into Venezuela's drug trade and financial systems could further destabilize the region. They called on U.S. allies in Latin America to follow Argentina, Colombia, and Paraguay in designating Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

The Trump administration has also accused Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials of overseeing the Cartel de los Soles, a sprawling drug-trafficking network allegedly involving members of the Venezuelan military. U.S. prosecutors have charged several high-ranking officials, including Maduro himself, with narcotics offenses, claiming the cartel helped move tons of cocaine to Central America and the United States with protection from the state.

According to U.S. officials, Venezuela's ties to both Hezbollah and transnational drug cartels have blurred the line between terrorism and organized crime. Moreno argued that such state-enabled networks meet the legal threshold for a terrorism designation under U.S. law.

"This is not just about Hezbollah or Iran," Moreno said. "It's about a regime using criminal and terrorist organizations to stay in power, and it's time we call it what it is."