Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been at the center of several significant policy announcements and diplomatic initiatives this week. On Sunday, Rubio announced that the United States will designate the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, effective November 24. He accused Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and high-ranking officials of leading the purported cartel and claimed it was responsible for terrorist violence and drug trafficking to the United States and Europe. This designation follows a Treasury Department action in July that added the group to the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list, but the new Foreign Terrorist Organization status carries stricter penalties, prohibiting any material support to the designated group.

The Cartel de los Soles designation has raised concerns among analysts about potential military escalation against Venezuela. However, President Trump has sent mixed signals, recently suggesting there may be discussions with the Maduro government despite the growing military buildup in the Caribbean region.

In other diplomatic matters, Rubio met with the Republic of Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos at the Department of State on November 17. He also spoke with President Paul Biya of Cameroon to congratulate him on his inauguration, and with President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, reaffirming President Trump's commitment to partnership with African nations.

On the immigration front, Rubio has been working to streamline visa processes for international visitors. During a meeting with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the White House, Rubio issued visa guidance to ticket holders planning to attend the 2026 World Cup. He announced that the administration has deployed over 400 additional consular offices around the world and doubled the size of consular offices in certain country embassies. According to Rubio, visa appointment wait times have been dramatically reduced, dropping from over a year in countries like Brazil and Argentina to just two months in most locations worldwide.

Rubio has also weighed in on military matters, with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth assigning Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg to oversee the USS Cole bombing case, giving him authority to decide whether to negotiate a plea deal for the accused orchestrator.

Additionally, reports indicate that Rubio has stated there would be no U.S. military intervention in Mexico, while cooperation between the two countries remains at an all-time high, despite President Trump's recent comments suggesting openness to military strikes to combat drug trafficking.

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