US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to hold direct talks with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, as Washington formally labels him the leader of a foreign terrorist organisation.
Axios, citing administration officials, reported that plans for a call are underway, marking a significant shift in the White House’s hardline approach.
The US Treasury announced this week that the so-called ‘Cartel of the Suns’ – a network allegedly operating within Venezuela’s security forces – has been designated a foreign terrorist organization, placing it alongside groups such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State. US officials claim Maduro heads the cartel, a charge the Venezuelan leader has repeatedly denied.
According to Axios, Trump’s willingness to engage suggests that large-scale military action against Venezuela is unlikely for now, despite weeks of US strikes on small boats off the Venezuelan coast that Washington says are tied to narcotics trafficking. Pentagon statements claim the operations have killed around 80 people.
An anonymous official told Axios that while covert pressure will continue, direct attempts to capture or kill Maduro are not currently planned. The source said the US would continue targeting vessels believed to be transporting drugs as part of its “narcoterrorism” campaign.
The prospective call has not yet been scheduled, but officials say planning is underway. The development comes amid long-standing US accusations that Venezuelan officials have engaged in drug trafficking and organized crime, including a 2020 indictment against Maduro and several current and former officials.
Despite escalating tensions and US military operations in the region, Maduro has stated that Venezuela is prepared for direct dialogue, while Caracas has condemned Washington’s actions as violations of its sovereignty and preparations for a coup.
More smoke and mirrors from Amerika’s J3wi$h President…
Another globalist US administration. Thieves who come in the night, who pillage and plunder. I hope Maduro does not concede too much. Sometimes you have to fight to stay free.