The Senate of Colombia declared Venezuela’s so-called Cartel de los Soles a transnational criminal and terrorist organization, aligning the country with a growing list of nations that have already condemned the group. The resolution was adopted with 33 votes in favor and 20 against, just days after Trump revoked Colombia’s U.S. Drug Certification.
Colombia’s Senate frames Cartel de los Soles as a threat to national and regional security
The approved text portrays the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) as a structure responsible for drug trafficking, money laundering, and suspected funding of armed groups tied to terrorism. Lawmakers stressed that the cartel represents a serious danger to Colombia’s population, institutions, and constitutional order. According to the resolution, the group undermines human rights, destabilizes democracy, and poses risks to the country’s territorial integrity.
Colombia is not acting alone in this classification. Countries such as Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, and the Dominican Republic have also labeled the cartel a terrorist network, following Washington’s lead. The United States designated the Cartel de los Soles as a global terrorist entity years ago, accusing top Venezuelan officials — including president Maduro, Head of Venezuela’s military Vladimir Padrino and Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello — of running it as a state-sponsored drug enterprise.
Clash with President Petro’s stance on the Cartel de los Soles
The resolution also places pressure on President Gustavo Petro, calling on his administration to uphold Colombia’s international commitments in the fight against organized crime and terrorism. In explicit language, the Senate urged the president to honor the treaties Colombia has signed in these areas. That appeal carries political weight because it directly contradicts Petro’s own recent statements.
Only weeks ago, Petro dismissed the very existence of the Cartel de los Soles, characterizing it as an invention used by political opponents to destabilize governments that refuse to align with their agenda. His remarks stand in stark contrast to the Senate’s position, which reflects domestic and international consensus on the cartel’s alleged activities.
International pressure and US indictments
The dispute over the cartel is not new. Since the administration of Donald Trump, U.S. authorities have accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro of leading the Cartel de los Soles in collaboration with senior military officers and government officials. In March 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice filed indictments against Maduro, charging him with drug trafficking and terrorism conspiracies.
The pressure has intensified in recent months. On Aug. 7, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced a US$50 million reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, citing his alleged role in coordinating massive cocaine shipments into North America and Europe. The unprecedented bounty illustrates Washington’s determination to criminally pursue the Venezuelan leader and dismantle what it calls a narco-terrorist alliance within the Venezuelan state.
Implications for Colombia–Venezuela relations
The Senate’s decision could inject new tension into the fragile relationship between Bogota and Caracas. Colombia and Venezuela share a porous 1,300-mile (over 2,000 km) border that has long been exploited by armed groups and criminal networks. Labeling the Cartel de los Soles as a terrorist entity effectively points the finger at elements of the Venezuelan state, raising the stakes in bilateral diplomacy.
Analysts warn that this move may complicate ongoing efforts to normalize trade and cross-border cooperation that Petro has pursued since taking office. It could also harden U.S. and regional positions against Maduro, creating additional pressure on Petro to align more closely with Washington’s security agenda. At the same time, Venezuela is likely to denounce the declaration as political interference, framing it as part of a broader campaign of destabilization.
The Senate’s stance signals a more confrontational approach than the executive branch has taken, and whether Petro embraces or resists this pressure could shape the future of Colombia’s foreign policy. For residents of the border region — where smuggling, displacement, and violence remain daily realities — the political dispute could have very real consequences, determining whether Bogota and Caracas coordinate or clash in addressing insecurity.
A resolution with symbolic and practical consequences
While the Senate’s declaration does not in itself authorize new operations, it sends a strong political signal inside and outside Colombia. Supporters of the measure argue that it strengthens the country’s diplomatic hand and could facilitate cooperation with allies on intelligence sharing, sanctions, and enforcement strategies.
The decision comes just after Trump’s move to revoke Colombia’s U.S. Drug Certification, as Colombian diplomats work to obtain the crucial waiver that could preserve Washington’s support despite the decertification. In this regard, the conservative opposition–dominated Senate’s move is sending a signal to Washington that Colombia is once again aligned with U.S. foreign policy interests in the fight against drug trafficking.
Critics, however, caution that the move is largely symbolic. They argue that under Colombian law it is the executive branch, not Congress, that has the authority to formally designate terrorist groups. From this perspective, the resolution functions more as political pressure on President Gustavo Petro than as a policy tool with immediate operational effects.
The debate over the Cartel de los Soles now sits at the crossroads of Colombian politics, U.S.–Venezuela tensions, and the broader fight against transnational organized crime. Whether Petro embraces the Senate’s call or chooses to downplay it will determine the resolution’s practical impact. What is clear is that Colombia has joined the international chorus denouncing the Cartel de los Soles as a criminal enterprise and a terrorist threat.
Related: Colombia Focuses on Local Narco Groups, Not Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles: Defense Minister.