Pete Hegseth Says Imminent Designation Of Cartel de los Soles As Terrorist Organization 'Brings a Whole Bunch Of New Options' To Target Venezuela

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Said the imminent designation of the Cartel de los Soles, which the Trump administration accuses Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro of leading, "brings a whole bunch of new options to the United States" to target the regime.

Local media reported that Hegseth made the claim during an interview with One America News, which had not aired as of Thursday afternoon. The designation, which could pave the way for military action, goes into effect on Monday.

The Department of State said in a statement that the designation will go into effect on November 24, adding that the organization is "headed by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking individuals of the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela's military, intelligence, legislature, and judiciary."

"Neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela's legitimate government. Cartel de los Soles by and with other designated FTOs including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as for trafficking drugs into the United States and Europe," the release adds. Maduro has denied any involvement.

Trump has also approved CIA plans to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, which could potentially pave the way for broader military action inside the country, according to another report.

Caracas, in turn, is showing defiance. On Wednesday, Maduro said "heavy weaponry and missiles" had been deployed in a key part of the country.

Maduro said the deployment is part of a "comprehensive defense plan" and fortifies the corridor between Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira.

He showed the area in a map during a televised address, noting that the plan detailed how the regime intends to defend the population from external threats "street by street, community by community, weapon by weapon, weapons system by weapons system."

In another passage of the address, Maduro added that an "arsenal of weapons for the militiamen and militiawomen is already in place." He claimed that over 8 million people enrolled in the militia during a drive in August after the U.S. began its military deployment in the area.