Final Minutes? Maduro Labeled a Terrorist, Nobel Prize Winner Appeals to Venezuelan Army, and Trump Talks – RedState

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Sunday that the Cartel de los Soles, a criminal enterprise led by Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, would be designated a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

.@StateDept intends to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Led by the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro, the group has corrupted Venezuela’s government institutions and is responsible for terrorist violence carried out by and with other…

– Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) November 16, 2025

@StateDept intends to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Led by the illegitimate Nicolás Maduro, the group has corrupted Venezuela’s government institutions and is responsible for terrorist violence carried out by and with other designated FTOs as well as drug trafficking to the United States and Europe.

State Department announcement says designation will take effect in November 24.

The State Department intends to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), effective November 24, 2025. Based in Venezuela, the Cartel de los Soles is led by Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking figures in the illegitimate Maduro regime who have corrupted Venezuela’s military, intelligence, legislature, and judicial system. Neither Maduro nor his acolytes represent the legitimate government of Venezuela. The Cartel de los Soles and along with other designated FTOs, including Tren de Aragua and the Sinaloa Cartel, are responsible for terrorist violence throughout our hemisphere as well as drug trafficking into the United States and Europe.

So why did Secretary of State Marco Rubio make this announcement on a Sunday at 5:38 p.m.? And why was it important enough that the state released the official bulletin around the same time?

As we all know, the United States has been amassing forces in the southern Caribbean and renovating its military bases in Puerto Rico. In terms of military action, the final piece of the puzzle fell into place with the arrival of Carrier Strike Group 12, led by the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, into the area of ​​operations; see SecWar Pete Hegseth announces ‘Operation Southern Spear’ as US carrier strike group enters Caribbean – RedState.

Objects of interest

1. As my colleague Susie Moore posted about President Trump’s confirmation that talks are underway with Maduro; see Trump Sparks Buzz: Talks with Maduro ‘could be coming’ – RedState.

.@POTUS on Venezuela: “We may have discussions with Maduro, and we will see how it goes – but they would like to talk.” pic.twitter.com/ooeKngFUch

– Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) November 16, 2025

Oddly enough, this comment came only an hour after Rubio’s announcement.

2. Maduro obviously doesn’t want to fight, but it’s unclear if he’s actually in charge.

3. In retrospect, it is curious that even though the State Department has labeled virtually all Mexican cartels, as well as the El Salvador-based MS-13, as OTF, the Sun Cartel has been ignored until now, despite our campaign to destroy their drug boats.

4. The Sun Cartel is above all a military operation. She predates Maduro and Hugo Chavez. He is closely linked to guerrillas and drug cartels in Colombia.

5. Nobel laureate and Venezuelan freedom activist Maria Corina Machado on Saturday began broadcasting calls for Venezuela’s armed forces to lay down their arms.

Urgent appeal from María Corina Machado to the Venezuelan army:

“What is going to happen is already happening. This decisive hour is imminent. Act now, at this very moment. Put down your weapons, do not attack your people, make the decision today to defend the freedom of Venezuela… pic.twitter.com/q9MpmG7gVF

– Cartel Watch (@CartelWatchNet) November 16, 2025

“What is about to happen is already happening. This decisive hour is imminent. Act now, at this very moment. Put down your weapons, do not attack your people, make the decision today to defend the freedom of Venezuela when the precise hour arrives.

The worst hostages are those who are forced to indulge in this barbarity. Those who obey nefarious orders, ruining the lives of their own brothers. They feel guilty. They cannot look their children or their mother in the eyes.

The position taken by each of you will forever mark your life. History, the law and the Venezuelan people will be your judges!

Pure conjecture

As I have said many times, the build-up of military forces has its own logic. If the other side does not accede to your demands, you either use them or flee, leaving an emboldened enemy behind. What you can’t do is maintain this strength indefinitely. I think the last element of a force capable of removing Maduro has arrived with CSG 12. Maduro is in a difficult situation. There are reports he wants to step down, but the problem is that the fictitious replacement government would be led by Machado, and the military is adamant that it is unacceptable. Without a change in government, Trump has no reason to grant Maduro the plane ticket and freedom from prosecution he desires.

On Saturday, Machado began broadcasting to the Venezuelan military asking them to lay down their arms when “the precise time arrives.” That hour, she says, is imminent.

On Sunday, Rubio declares that the Sun Cartel is an FTO. This effectively criminalizes all upper echelons of the Venezuelan military. Suddenly they face long prison sentences in very unpleasant places, if the United States invades and the military lays down its arms. Spoiler alert: some Venezuelan army units will fight, but most will disappear. The one-week grace period gives military officers the opportunity to negotiate their surrender and not be treated like a drug cartel.

Trump saying, “We may be having discussions with Maduro, and we’ll see how that goes – but they would like to talk” is interesting. He did so only an hour after Rubio announced that in a week, the Sun Cartel would be an FTO. He also says: “They would like to talk. » This could suggest that he is discussing with the Venezuelan army a peaceful transfer of power to Machado, who says that “the decisive hour is imminent.” In purchasing parlance, they received his “best and last offer.”

Last minutes?

Regardless of how correct my guess is, I think the November 24 deadline gives us a date to focus on. If by this date Maduro has not made the decision to catch the first thing that smokes in Caracas, his turkey will be cooked.

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