BOGOTA - Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused the United States of deploying military forces to the Caribbean not to combat drug trafficking, but to secure access to Venezuela’s oil reserves. Petro made the remarks in an interview with CNN, sharply questioning Washington’s stated motives.
According to Petro, Venezuela is not a major drug producer, nor does it play a significant role in global narcotics trafficking. Yet, the U.S. has sent a substantial military presence to the region and frequently intercepts and sinks vessels it claims are involved in drug smuggling.
“Trump isn’t thinking about democratizing Venezuela, let alone fighting the drug trade,” Petro said.
UN Data: Venezuela Not a Cocaine-Producing Country
Figures from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) appear to support Petro’s claim. Of the roughly 3,700 tons of cocaine produced globally each year, more than 2,500 tons come from Colombia, while Venezuela does not appear on any production maps, according to the UN agency.
U.S. Labels ‘Cartel de los Soles’ a Terrorist Organization
Despite this, the U.S. government on Monday designated Venezuela’s so-called “Cartel de los Soles” as a foreign terrorist organization, linking it directly to President Nicolás Maduro. The designation gives U.S. authorities broader powers to take action against individuals and entities associated with the alleged network.
Maduro dismissed the accusations as “ridiculous”, claiming Washington’s true objective is securing Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Critics note that the “Cartel de los Soles” is more commonly used as an umbrella term for alleged corrupt Venezuelan officials, rather than an organized criminal syndicate. Nevertheless, analysts warn that the U.S. designation could reopen the door to potential military intervention, a possibility Maduro remains wary of despite his fiery rhetoric.
The dispute adds new tension to an already volatile geopolitical landscape in the Caribbean and Latin America.