Maduro Expresses Openness to Dialogue Amid Increased US Pressure
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has stated his willingness to engage in direct discussions with representatives from the United States administration. This declaration follows comments made by US President Donald Trump, who indicated he had not dismissed the possibility of deploying ground forces to Venezuela.
US Accusations and Venezuelan Responses
The US administration has accused President Maduro of leading a drug cartel. Maduro, whose re-election last year was disputed by numerous countries, has denied these allegations. He has, in turn, accused the United States of attempting to initiate conflict to secure control over Venezuela's oil resources.
Escalation of US Measures
Since the beginning of the current Trump administration term in January, the US has intensified its pressure on Maduro's government. Key actions include:
- Doubling the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture to $50 million.
- Launching a counternarcotics operation in August, targeting vessels the US alleges are transporting drugs from Venezuela to the United States. Over 80 individuals have died as a result of operations targeting suspected vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that "Operation Southern Spear" aims to remove "narcoterrorists" from the Western Hemisphere. However, legal experts have questioned the legality of these operations, citing a lack of publicly presented evidence by the US that the targeted boats were carrying illicit substances. The scale of the US military deployment, which includes the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, has also led to speculation among some in Venezuela that its actual objective is Maduro's removal from power.
Trump's Statements and Diplomatic Interpretations
President Trump has provided varied responses regarding the US approach to Venezuela:
- On November 3, when asked by CBS whether the US was going to war with Venezuela, Trump replied, "I don't think so."
- On Sunday, asked if he would rule out US troops on the ground in Venezuela, he stated, "No, I don't rule out that, I don't rule out anything."
- When pressed on direct talks with Maduro, he said, "I would probably talk to him, yeah. I talk to everybody."
Also on Sunday, the US State Department announced its intention to designate "Cartel de los Soles," the Venezuelan drug trafficking organization it alleges is led by Maduro, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). This designation is set to become effective on November 24. This delay, combined with President Trump's remarks about potential direct talks, has been interpreted by some analysts as a US ultimatum to Maduro: engage in negotiations or potentially face more stringent US actions.
An FTO designation renders it illegal for US citizens to knowingly provide material support or resources to the designated group. According to the White House, it also establishes US policy to "ensure the total elimination of these organisations' presence in the United States and their ability to threaten the territory, safety, and security of the United States." Some analysts suggest that, similar to arguments made regarding the legality of targeting alleged drug boats, the FTO designation could be used to support operations against the Cartel de los Soles on Venezuelan territory.