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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has said he is open to talks with the United States on drug trafficking, oil and migration issues, amid weeks of the Trump administration’s growing pressure campaign.
In an interview recorded on state television and broadcast on Thursday, the South American leader declared himself ready to dialogue with the United States “wherever they want, whenever they want”. He evaded a question about a strike last week in a Venezuelan port area that the Trump administration believed was being used by cartels.
During the interview, Maduro reiterated that the United States wants to force a change of government in Venezuela and gain access to its vast territory. oil reserves through the months-long pressure campaign that began with a massive military deployment to the Caribbean Sea in August.
“What are they looking for? It is clear that they are seeking to impose themselves through threats, intimidation and force,” Maduro said, later adding that it was time for the two countries to “start talking seriously, with data in hand.”
“The U.S. government knows, because we have told several of its spokespeople, that if it wants to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we are ready,” he said. “If they want oil, Venezuela is ready to welcome American investments, like with Chevron, when they want it, where they want it and how they want it.”
Chevron Corp. is the only major oil company to export Venezuelan crude to the United States. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world.
The interview was recorded on New Year’s Eve, the same day that The US military announced strikes against five other suspected drug trafficking boats. The latest attacks bring the total number of known boat collisions to 35 and the number of people killed to at least 115, according to figures announced by the Trump administration. Venezuelans are among the victims.
President Trump has justified the attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the United States and claimed that the United States is engaged in “armed conflict” with drug cartels. The strikes began off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast and later spread to the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro of drug trafficking and collaboration with gangs designated by the United States as terrorist organizations — which Maduro denies.
In a major escalation of the campaign, Mr Trump, who has repeatedly threatened to carry out ground strikes against Venezuela, said US hit ‘major facility’ last week linked to alleged drug trafficking operations, although he did not provide many details.
“There was a major explosion in the dock area where they were loading the boats with drugs,” Mr. Trump said Monday while speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago.
The Associated Press, citing two people familiar with the details of the operation, reported that the CIA was behind the drone attack. This is the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the start of the boat strikes.
The CIA refused to comment on its involvement in this operation.
Asked about the operation on Venezuelan soil, Maduro said he could “talk about it in a few days.”
