Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro expressed his government’s willingness to negotiate a drug trafficking agreement with the U.S. amid ongoing military pressure targeting his administration’s drug networks.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced on Thursday that his government is prepared to engage in negotiations with the United States regarding a potential drug trafficking agreement. This statement follows months of intensified American military pressure aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks associated with his administration.
In a pre-recorded interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet, which aired on state television, Maduro emphasized that Venezuela is “ready” to discuss a drug-trafficking deal. He urged both nations to “start talking seriously, with data in hand.” He added, “The U.S. government knows, because we’ve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we’re ready.”
Maduro further indicated that if the U.S. seeks oil, Venezuela is open to U.S. investment, referencing Chevron as the only major American oil company currently exporting Venezuelan crude to the United States. “Whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it,” he stated.
Despite this overture, Maduro accused the U.S. of pursuing regime change in Venezuela and attempting to gain access to the country’s vast oil reserves through a prolonged pressure campaign. This campaign has included a significant military deployment to the Caribbean Sea that began in August.
He asserted that the U.S. aims “to impose themselves through threats, intimidation and force.” The interview was recorded on New Year’s Eve, coinciding with a U.S. military announcement regarding a kinetic strike that resulted in the deaths of five individuals aboard two vessels linked to designated terrorist organizations involved in narcotics trafficking.
Since the U.S. initiated airstrikes against alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific in early September, at least 114 people have reportedly lost their lives. There are indications that the U.S. may be considering an expansion of its campaign focused on Venezuela, which could include potential ground operations.
President Donald Trump confirmed that a recent strike targeted what he described as a Venezuelan port utilized for drug trafficking. However, he did not clarify whether the operation was conducted by the U.S. military or another entity, such as the CIA.
Maduro refrained from commenting on the specifics of that strike during the interview but mentioned he could “talk about it in a few days.” In recent weeks, Trump has escalated pressure on Maduro by ordering a total blockade of oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela and designating his regime as a foreign terrorist organization. The U.S. has accused Maduro’s government of utilizing stolen American assets to fund terrorism, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities.
Additionally, U.S. authorities have seized two ships carrying oil that was under sanctions. The ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela continue to evolve, with both sides seemingly at an impasse despite Maduro’s recent overtures for negotiation.
According to Fox News Digital, the situation remains fluid as both nations navigate the complexities of their relationship amidst military and economic pressures.