WASHINGTON (AP) — The President donald trump On Monday, he did not rule out military action against Venezuela, even as he raised the possibility of diplomatic opening with Venezuelan leaders. Nicolas MaduroUS military buildup and attack a suspected drug smuggling ship His neighbors in the South American country are planning to expel him from public office.
Trump repeated: “I’ll probably talk to Mr. Maduro.”However, he stressed that he would not take the possibility of military action on Venezuelan territory off the table. Hours later, President Maduro said he was open to dialogue with the Trump administration.
“I don’t rule that out. I don’t rule anything out,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, a day after first hinting that he might have “talks” with Maduro. But Trump dodged a question about whether Maduro could say anything that would lead to a withdrawal of U.S. military action. display of military power.
Trump linked Maduro to drugs and migrants entering the United States from Venezuela, saying, “He has done great harm to our country.” “He wasn’t good against the United States, so let’s see what happens.”
The comments by both leaders deepened uncertainty over the Trump administration’s next steps against Maduro. The United States has gradually increased pressure in recent days and said it expects: designated as a terrorist organization The cartel claims to be led by Maduro and other Venezuelan government officials.
of USS Gerald R. Ford Accompanying warships arrived in the Caribbean this weekend, just as the U.S. military announced the latest in a series of attacks against the United States. Vessel suspected of transporting drugs.
“You can change policy with a single penny.”
administration It said the action was an anti-drug operation. The move is aimed at stopping drugs from entering American cities, but some analysts, Venezuelans and the country’s political opposition see it as a tactic to increase pressure on Maduro.
Jeff Ramsey, an expert on U.S. policy toward Venezuela and a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the Trump administration has shown that it is “able to shift policy slightly.” He noted that the administration had been in diplomatic talks with Iran “up until the last minute.” US military targets Iranian nuclear facilities In June.
But Ramsey added that the timing of Trump’s remarks, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the impending terrorist designation of the Cartel de los Soles, underscores that the administration does not want to repeat its failed attempts at dialogue.
“They really want to negotiate from a position of strength, and I think the White House is giving President Maduro an ultimatum,” Ramsey said. “Either he has credible talks about a transition, or the United States will have no choice but to escalate.”
President Maduro has been negotiating with political opponents in the United States and Venezuela for several years, most notably in the previous two years. July 2024 presidential election. These negotiations resulted in an agreement aimed at paving the way for free and democratic elections, but President Maduro repeatedly tested its limits and ultimately claimed victory despite his credibility. Evidence that he lost the contest by a 2-1 margin.
Among the concessions the United States made to President Maduro during negotiations was authorizing oil giant Chevron to resume pumping and exporting Venezuelan crude. The company’s operations in the South American country have become a financial lifeline for Maduro’s government.
Maduro addressed Trump’s comments on Monday’s weekly television show, saying “free countries and governments should understand each other only through diplomacy.”
“Anyone who wants to engage in dialogue will find among us someone who will keep his word, a decent person and someone who has the experience to lead Venezuela,” he said. He then added in English: “Speak, yes. Peace, yes. War, no. Never, never.”
Spokesperson for Venezuelan opposition leader Nobel Peace Prize Winner Maria Colina Machado told reporters on Monday that she would not comment on President Trump’s remarks.
President Trump also talks about Mexico
President Trump also did not rule out military action against close allies in the region.
“Do we want a strike in Mexico to stop drugs? I don’t care what we have to do to stop drugs,” Trump said, adding, “I’m not happy with Mexico.”
President Trump said the U.S. government has “close surveillance” of drug routes from Mexico and said he also wants to target “cocaine factories” in Colombia.
“Can I put those factories out of business? I personally would be proud to do it. I didn’t say I would do it, but I’m proud to do it,” he said.
Skepticism and hopes within Venezuela regarding the possibility of talks
Trump’s goals for Venezuela remain unclear, but above all, the president “wants to win,” Ramsey said.
“And he may be flexible about what that specifically looks like,” Ramsey said. “One can imagine the United States pushing for greater control over Venezuela’s natural resources, including oil, and greater cooperation with the president’s immigration and security goals.”
In Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, people were both skeptical and hopeful about the possibility of new dialogue between President Maduro and the United States, whose government has fueled rumors of a ground invasion, even though the Trump administration has given little clear indication of plans for a ground invasion.
“If (dialogue) actually happens, I hope that this time the government will actually follow through,” shop owner Gustavo Garcia, 38, said as he left the church. “We have to get serious. They got us used to talking, but we won’t honor the agreement. Don’t mess with Trump.”
“It’s always good to talk,” said Mary Martinez, 41, a stay-at-home mom.
“Anything that can help prevent a tragedy is good,” Martinez said. “Venezuela people don’t deserve this. War is in no one’s interest.”
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García Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda in Caracas contributed to this report.
