The U.S. State Department on Monday formally designated Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles a Foreign Terrorist Organization, granting the Trump administration expanded legal authority to take military action against the Nicolás Maduro regime.

The move comes as Washington appears poised to launch a new phase of operations in the coming days amid rapidly escalating tensions with Caracas. Four U.S. officials told Reuters the administration is preparing to intensify pressure as relations deteriorate and American military assets continue to surge into the Caribbean.