The head of the White House, Donald Trump, had a telephone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last week. This was reported by the New York Times (NYT), citing “numerous sources” familiar with the situation.
Sources claim that Trump and Maduro have discussed a possible bilateral meeting. At the same time, according to sources, there are no specific plans for negotiations, since the telephone conversation took place against the backdrop of ongoing US threats of military intervention in Venezuela.
The publication notes that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also took part in the telephone conversation.
In addition, the publication writes that both the White House and the Venezuelan government refused to comment on this conversation.
It is reported that “two people close to to the Venezuelan government,” confirmed that the telephone contact had indeed taken place.
NYT previously wrote that in October, in order to relieve tensions, Maduro allegedly offered the United States a significant share in the oil fields of Venezuela and a number of other opportunities for American companies.
US decision on the Cartel de los Soles
The United States added the Cartel de los Soles structure, which they claim to be led, to the list of foreign terrorist organizations Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials.
Caracas, in turn, rejected the accusations and called the US decision an attempt to create a pretext for interference in the country’s internal affairs.
It was reported that the world’s largest American aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, along with a strike force, arrived in the Latin American region “to fight drug trafficking.”
In response, Venezuelan President Maduro announced the mobilization of 4.5 million militias and the country’s readiness to repel any attack.