Donald Trump ‘spoke to Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro’ | US | News
According to the New York Times, President Donald Trump reportedly had a conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro about the possibility of a meeting.
Discussion between the two leaders centered around a possible meeting at a time when the threat of U.S. military action against Venezuela persists, according to two people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity last week.
These sources revealed that the dialogue included discussions about a possible meeting between Trump and Maduro on American soil, but no definitive plans have been made yet.
Trump’s phone call, which also included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, came just days before the State Department labeled Maduro as the leader of the Cartel de los Soles, a group designated by the Trump administration as a foreign terrorist organization.
The United States has significantly increased its military presence targeting Venezuela in the Caribbean, stating that its main goal is to deter drug trafficking. Moreover, the administration has made clear that it is trying to remove Maduro from power.
In October, the NYT reported that Maduro offered to give the United States a significant stake in Venezuelan oil fields in an attempt to ease tensions.
But despite Maduro’s desire to remain in power, US officials ended those discussions early last month.
Daily Express US has reached out to both the White House and the State Department for comment.
The United States has launched at least 21 attacks on suspected drug vessels operating in the Caribbean, miles from the Venezuelan coastline. These operations have resulted in at least 83 deaths in recent months.
In early November, the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford and its strike group entered the US Southern Command’s area of responsibility in Latin America. Reuters had initially confirmed the deployment, signaling the continuation of America’s military buildup against Venezuela.
On Thanksgiving evening, Trump announced that efforts to stop drug traffickers would shift to ground operations. “The terrain is easier, but this will start very soon,” Mr. Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago.
