Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has indicated a willingness to engage in face-to-face discussions with representatives from the Trump administration as US pressure mounts. This comment follows a statement from President Donald Trump, who has suggested that he has not ruled out deploying ground forces in Venezuela.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading a drugs cartel, a claim that Maduro firmly denies, stating that the US is attempting to provoke a conflict to seize control of Venezuela's oil resources. Since Trump took office for a second term, there has been a marked increase in aggressive US measures against Maduro.
The US doubled its reward for information leading to Maduro's capture to $50 million and initiated a counternarcotics operation, leading to numerous strikes on boats allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. Critics, however, have raised questions about the legality and effectiveness of these operations.
Maduro has communicated directly with the US public, emphasizing his desire for peace and dialogue. He noted, 'dialogue, call, yes, peace, yes, war, no, never, never war,' expressing readiness for negotiations.
Despite such gestures, previous attempts at dialogue between Maduro and opposition factions have failed, raising concerns about the state of Venezuelan politics. Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado continues to rally support against Maduro from an undisclosed location, highlighting the potential for further upheaval in the region.
