President Donald Trump has indicated that he intends to engage in dialogue with Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro amid rising tensions fueled by a significant increase in U.S. military forces in the Caribbean. The President expressed his willingness to speak with Maduro, who he criticized for being detrimental to U.S. interests, emphasizing that he would not dismiss the possibility of American troops being deployed in Venezuela.
During a press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump remarked on his impending conversation with the Venezuelan leader, acknowledging Maduro’s negative influence on relations with the U.S. “At a certain period of time, I’ll be talking to him,” Trump said, underscoring his concerns regarding the influx of Venezuelan nationals into the United States. He pointed out that, according to his administration, many of these individuals were released from prisons.
In response to the escalating military activities, Maduro publicly declared his readiness to engage in face-to-face discussions with U.S. representatives. This statement came on his weekly television program, where he urged for dialogue rather than conflict.
Presently, a contingent of U.S. Marines is engaged in military exercises in Trinidad and Tobago, marking the second such operation in recent weeks. However, Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, asserted that her nation would not permit its territory to be used for military actions against Venezuela. She emphasized her commitment to preventing any harm to Venezuelan citizens and stressed the importance of resolving differences through dialogue.
The military buildup by the U.S., which includes the deployment of naval ships and stealth aircraft, has drawn criticism from Venezuela, which has accused the United States of aiming for regime change. The U.S. government, for its part, has labeled Maduro’s administration as a “terrorist” drug cartel, a claim the Venezuelan president vehemently refutes.
In a separate but related issue, the Trump administration has intensified its scrutiny of Mexico’s effectiveness in combating drug trafficking. Trump expressed a willingness to consider U.S. military strikes to address drug smuggling, stating, “It’s OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs.” He noted that he would be proud to undertake such actions, framing them as necessary for saving lives.
Since August, the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean has been amplified, with approximately six warships deployed under the pretext of combating drug trafficking heading toward the United States. According to recently released figures, U.S. forces have conducted airstrikes resulting in the deaths of at least 83 individuals associated with alleged drug trafficking, though details substantiating claims of their involvement remain undisclosed.
