The United States does not recognize Nicolas Maduro or his cronies as the legitimate government of Venezuela, stated U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz at the Security Council. “Nicolas Maduro is a fugitive from American justice and the head of the Foreign Terrorist Organization Cartel de Los Soles. In fact, Maduro and his regime stole the election, and the international community has the receipts.”
President Donald Trump has been very clear that he is going to use the full power of the United States to take on and eradicate the drug cartels, which have operated with impunity in the Western Hemisphere for far too long, said Ambassador Waltz.
“The single most serious threat to this hemisphere . . .is from transnational terrorist and criminal groups. These cartels are not like the mafia. These cartels are sophisticated, very technically capable, well-financed, and are wreaking havoc in our region.”
In its 2025 World Drug Report, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime identified Venezuela as the key trafficking route in the entire Western Hemisphere for illegal drugs, and for illegal narcotics and materials entering the United States and increasingly, Europe.
The United States will impose and enforce sanctions to the maximum extent to deprive Maduro of the resources he uses to fund Cartel de Los Soles, which the United States has designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization along with Tren de Aragua. This includes profits from the sale of oil used to finance these cartels.
The reality is that sanctioned oil tankers operate as the primary economic lifeline for Maduro and his illegitimate regime, noted Ambassador Waltz. These sanctioned tankers also fund the narco-terrorist group Cartel de Los Soles.
“Not only does Maduro’s illegitimate regime openly cooperate and fund terrorists and criminal organizations, but it invites terrorist groups, like Hezbollah, like the Iranian regime, militias like the [National Liberation Army] and [Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia] dissidents to operate openly within their territory,” warned Ambassador Waltz.
Furthermore, Maduro’s ability to sell Venezuela’s oil enables his fraudulent claim to power and his narco-terrorist activities, noted Ambassador Waltz:
“The people of Venezuela frankly deserve better. These people who have suffered under Maduro’s socialist dictatorship. It is the action and policies of the illegitimate Maduro regime that pose an extraordinary threat to our hemisphere’s peace and stability and to that of the United States.”
The bottom line is, whether it is physical attacks on our buildings and infrastructure like we suffered on 9/11 or hybrid attacks like flooding the nation with criminals and deadly chemicals, said Ambassador Waltz, the United States will do everything in its considerable power to protect its hemisphere, borders, and people.
The United States does not recognize Nicolas Maduro or his cronies as the legitimate government of Venezuela, stated U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz at the Security Council.