Trump confirms conversation with Venezuela’s Maduro
US President Donald Trump said that he spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but did not give details about the issue discussed.
Asked by reporters on Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said, “I don’t want to comment on that. My answer is yes.”
The New York Times first reported that Trump met with Maduro earlier this month and discussed a possible meeting in the United States.
The revelation of the phone call comes as Trump continues combative rhetoric on Venezuela while also entertaining the possibility of diplomacy.
On Saturday, Trump said the airspace above and around Venezuela should be considered “totally closed” but did not provide further details, causing growing concern and confusion in Caracas as his administration ratchets up pressure on Maduro’s government.
Asked if the airspace comments meant attacks on Venezuela were imminent, Trump said, “Don’t put any meaning into that.”
The Trump administration is weighing options on Venezuela to combat what it portrays as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that are killing Americans.
The socialist Venezuelan president has denied any connection with the illegal drug trade.
Reuters reported that an attempt to overthrow Maduro was among the options the US was considering, and that the US military was preparing for a new phase of operations after a major military build-up in the Caribbean and nearly three months of attacks on suspected drug ships off the Venezuelan coast.
Trump also authorized covert CIA operations in the country.
Trump told military service members last week that the United States would begin ground operations “very soon” to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers.
Meanwhile, Maduro accused the United States of trying to gain control of his country’s oil reserves through its increased military presence in the Caribbean.
In a letter to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries on Sunday, Maduro said Washington wanted to “seize Venezuela’s largest oil reserves on the planet with lethal military force.”
He said this threat endangers “regional and international peace, security and stability” and poses a risk to Venezuelan production and the international oil market.
The US deployed additional troops to the Caribbean and redeployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford, to the region from the Mediterranean, accompanied by other warships and long-range bombers.
According to the US government, the purpose of the mission is to fight drug traffickers.
U.S. officials say more than 80 people have already died in attacks on alleged drug ships.
Maduro said the United States had concentrated 15,000 troops and 14 warships in the Caribbean; This figure coincides with the news in the US press.
Amid rising tensions, questions have also emerged about whether the U.S. government is seeking a change of power in Caracas, as well as speculation that an attack on targets in Venezuela may be imminent.
OPEC has 12 members, including Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.
with dpa
