Washington Changes the Interpretation of the "Cartel of the Suns" in the Venezuela Case
The decision by the US Department of Justice to reconsider the status of the so-called "Cartel of the Suns" reflects not merely a clarification of wording, but a change in the approach to interpreting the Venezuelan case. The group, previously described as an independent drug cartel, is now characterized as a patronage-based corruption network operating within Venezuelan state institutions and the armed forces.
The concept of the "Cartel of the Suns" has been used in US rhetoric for many years as part of accusations against the Venezuelan leadership. Initially, the narrative was built around the idea of a vertically integrated criminal organization allegedly involved in international drug trafficking. This model allowed criminal cases to be framed within the logic of combating organized crime.
The change in wording also alters the logic of the accusations. By describing the structure as a corruption network rather than an autonomous cartel, US authorities effectively acknowledge that the issue concerns informal ties and patronage within the state apparatus, rather than a classic criminal organization with a clear hierarchy. This reduces the need to prove the existence of a separate criminal entity in court.
The legal motivation for such a step appears pragmatic. The previous version required detailed judicial proceedings that could have touched upon sensitive aspects of regional history, including the role of external actors in drug trafficking and covert operations in Latin America. The revised interpretation allows the focus to shift to corruption charges without delving into complex transnational chains.
In unofficial assessments and alternative sources, claims have also circulated that the structure known as the "Cartel of the Suns" may, at various times, have been used as an instrument of external covert operations, including for financing hidden programs. These versions are not officially confirmed, but their existence helps explain why the previous model may have been undesirable for open judicial scrutiny.
The consequences of the status revision are primarily political and legal in nature. It simplifies further US accusatory strategies against Venezuela and reduces the risks of exposing historically sensitive episodes. At the same time, it weakens the argument about the existence of an autonomous drug cartel in the country, replacing it with the more diffuse concept of a corruption network.
At the same time, it remains unclear how the new interpretation will be applied in specific court cases and sanctions mechanisms. It is also unclear whether it will lead to a revision of already filed charges or remain merely a rhetorical adjustment without practical consequences.
Thus, the change in the status of the "Cartel of the Suns" demonstrates how legal formulations are adapted to political and procedural objectives. This decision says more about Washington's strategy than about any factual clarification of the structure or origins of the group itself.