The U.S. State Department designates Venezuela's 'Cartel de los Soles' as a foreign terrorist organization, coinciding with a military buildup in the Caribbean and raising concerns about broader geopolitical implications, potentially targeting allies of Venezuela like Russia and China.
by GEOFF HARRIS | The National News DeskTIANJIN, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Chinese President Xi jinping shows the way to Russian President Vladimir Putin during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit 2025 at the Meijiang Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 1, 2025 in Tianjin, China.
The State Department announced Monday it's designating Venezuela's 'Cartel de los Soles' as a foreign terrorist organization. The announcement on Monday comes amid the U.S. military's continued buildup of ships and fighter jets in the Caribbean. A move that could give the Trump administration new tools to go after the cartel, which they claim is led by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. A claim Maduro denies. The U.S. government, in conjunction with its community intelligence partners, can actively pursue the terrorist threat within the Caribbean basin," said Rich de la Torre, CEO & Founder of Tower Strategy. The announcement on Monday comes amid the U.S. military's continued buildup of ships and fighter jets in the Caribbean. Including the USS Gerald R. Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier. It also comes on the same day two of the military's top leaders, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, met with troops in the Caribbean. But some lawmakers and security experts also believe, the designation and buildup of U.S. forces in the Caribbean go beyond just the Maduro regime. But also expanding to get Russia and China, who are allies of Venezuela, out of the Western Hemisphere. We ought to be making sure that our interests are respected in our own hemisphere. That includes having aircraft carriers in our own hemisphere. That also means taking out narco-terrorists who are finding new ways to poison Americans," Sen. Eric Schmitt told Fox News over the weekend. "President Trump, I think, is looking at this and saying we cannot allow our greatest geopolitical rival in Beijing to have a presence in our neighborhood, the way China has for the last 20 years," said Alex Gray, former NSC Chief of Staff for President Trump, Alex Gray, told Fox News. De la Torre added, he believes it's also the Trump administration influencing all the neighbors in the Caribbean basin and Latin America. Letting them know that these types of relationships with Iran and China and Russia aren't going to be allowed any longer within our hemisphere," said de la Torre.According to Axios, administration officials say Trump told his advisors he's planning to speak directly with Maduro. A decision those sources say could be a sign that U.S. strikes or direct military action on land might not be imminent.Speed and the lack of seat belt use contributed to the fatal Cache County crash that killed two teens Saturday evening, according to investigators.Days after thOne person was hospitalized after a plane caught fire.Janna-Lee Holland with the Provo Police Department said they were notified that a "small aircraft" was lanTwo teenagers were killed in a two-vehicle crash in Providence Saturday evening.Utah Highway Patrol public information officer Davies Sanchez confirmed just aftA former West High School teacher was convicted of sexually abusing a 17-year-old student in his classroom and home.Sterrett "Rett" Neale was found guilty of seA new Olympic logo for the 2034 Salt Lake Winter Games was unveiled on Monday, celebrating the "3,000 days out" milestone to the Games' return to Utah.The 2034
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