Washington– president Donald Trump On Monday, he did not rule out military action against Venezuela, despite raising a possible diplomatic opening with the leader Nicolas Madurowho insisted that the American military buildup and Strikes on alleged drug boats near his South American country, aiming to oust him from office.
Trump repeated that “I’ll probably talk to Maduro.”But he stressed that he did not rule out the possibility of military action on Venezuelan territory being on the table. Hours later, Maduro said he was open to dialogue with the Trump administration.
“I don’t rule it out. I don’t rule anything out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office a day after he first raised the possibility of “discussions” with Maduro. However, Trump sidestepped questions about whether Maduro could say anything to him that would cause the United States to back down. Military display of force.
“He has caused tremendous damage to our country,” Trump said, linking Maduro to drugs and migrants coming to the United States from Venezuela. He added: “He did not do well with the United States, so we will see what happens.”
The two leaders’ comments deepened uncertainty about the Trump administration’s next steps toward the Maduro government. The United States has intensified its pressure in recent days, saying it had expected this Classified as a terrorist organization A cartel it says is led by Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan government officials.
the USS Gerald R. Ford The warships accompanying it arrived in the Caribbean this weekend as the US military announced the latest in a series of strikes against it. Ships suspected of transporting drugs.
Management She says her actions are an anti-drug operation It aims to prevent the flow of drugs into American cities, but some Venezuelan analysts and the country’s political opposition see it as an escalating pressure tactic against Maduro.
Jeff Ramsey, an expert on US policy toward Venezuela and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the Trump administration has shown it “can turn policy on its head.” He referred to the administration’s diplomatic talks with Iran “up to the moment” when an agreement was reached US forces targeted Iranian nuclear facilities In June.
But Ramsey added that the timing of Trump’s comments — after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the impending terrorist designation of the Cartel de los Soles — underscores that the administration does not want a repeat of failed attempts at dialogue.
“They really want to negotiate from a place of strength, and I think the White House is giving Maduro an ultimatum,” Ramsey said. “Either he engages in credible talks about the transition, or the United States will have no choice but to escalate.”
Maduro has negotiated with the United States and the political opposition in Venezuela for several years, most notably in the previous two years Presidential elections July 2024. Those negotiations resulted in agreements aimed at paving the way for free and democratic elections, but Maduro repeatedly tested their limits, ultimately declaring victory despite discredit. Evidence that he lost the contest by a margin of 2 to 1.
Among the concessions made by the United States to Maduro during the negotiations was approval for the giant oil company Chevron to resume pumping and exporting Venezuelan oil. The company’s activities in the South American country have resulted in a financial lifeline for the Maduro government.
During his weekly television program, Monday, Maduro addressed Trump’s statements, saying that “free countries and governments should understand each other only through diplomacy.”
He said: “Anyone who wants to engage in dialogue will find in us people who stick to their word, respectable people, and people who have the experience to lead Venezuela.” He later added in English: “Speak, yes. Peace, yes. War, no. Never, never, war.”
Spokesman for Venezuelan opposition leader W Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado told reporters on Monday that she would not comment on Trump’s comments.
Trump did not even rule out possible military action against close allies in the region.
“Do I want to have strikes in Mexico to stop the drugs? Well, whatever we have to do to stop the drugs,” Trump said, adding that he was “not happy with Mexico.”
Trump said the US government was putting drug corridors from Mexico “under heavy surveillance” and said he would also like to target “cocaine factories” in Colombia.
“Am I going to destroy those factories? I would be proud to do it personally. I didn’t say I was doing it – but I would be proud to do it,” he said.
Trump’s goal on Venezuela remains unclear, but above all, Ramsey said, the president is “looking to win.”
“And he may be flexible about exactly what that looks like,” Ramsey said. “I can envision the United States seeking greater control over Venezuela’s natural resources, including oil, as well as greater cooperation with the president’s immigration and security goals.”
In the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, people responded with skepticism and hope about the possibility of a new dialogue between the United States and Maduro, whose government has sparked rumors of a ground invasion even though the Trump administration has offered few clear indications of such a plan.
“If (the dialogue) actually happens, I hope the government will actually follow through on it during this time,” shop owner Gustavo Garcia (38 years old) said as he left the church. “We have to be serious. They’ve got us used to their talk, but they don’t respect agreements. Don’t mess with Trump.”
“It’s always better to talk,” said mother Mary Martinez, 41, who lives at the house.
“Anything that helps prevent a tragedy is a good thing,” Martinez said. “Venezuelans don’t deserve this. War benefits no one.”
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Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda in Caracas contributed to this report.