Maduro Open to Dialogue Amid Growing US Pressure

Tue Nov 18 2025 18:50:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro expresses willingness to engage in talks with the Trump administration as military tension escalates, raising concerns over US intentions regarding Venezuela's political future.

As US pressure mounts, Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has indicated he is ready for face-to-face discussions with the Trump administration. His statement comes amidst heightened military activity and accusations from the US regarding drug trafficking. Analysts speculate the US strategy may involve negotiating or escalating military intervention, with potential consequences for the Venezuelan populace. Meanwhile, opposition leader María Corina Machado continues to rally for change within the country, suggesting a pivotal moment in Venezuela's ongoing crisis.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has said that he is willing to hold face-to-face talks with representatives of the Trump administration as US pressure on him grows. Maduro made the comment hours after US President Donald Trump said he had not ruled out deploying ground forces to the South American country.

The Trump administration has accused Maduro - whose re-election last year was dismissed as rigged by many countries - of being the leader of a drugs cartel. Maduro has denied the allegation and accuses the US of trying to incite a war to gain control of Venezuela's oil reserves.

Since Trump was sworn in to a second term in office in January, the US government has increased its pressure on Maduro, doubling the reward for information leading to his capture to $50 million. August saw the launch of a counternarcotics operation targeting boats accused of transporting drugs from Venezuela to the US, resulting in more than 80 deaths in strikes on these vessels.

Amid this, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth indicated that the aim of 'Operation Southern Spear' is to remove 'narcoterrorists' from the Western Hemisphere, raising questions about the legality and impact of such strikes.

Trump has given contradictory signals regarding military action, yet has also left the door open for dialogue with Maduro. The State Department recently stated plans to designate the Venezuelan drug trafficking gang allegedly led by Maduro as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, although this designation will not take effect until late November.

Maduro has recently appealed directly to the US public and emphasized his willingness to engage in dialogue, saying, 'dialogue, call, yes, peace, yes, war, no, never, never war'. However, previous negotiations have faltered, with various attempts at mediation failing.

On the opposition side, María Corina Machado is actively seeking to galvanize support against Maduro, addressing the military and the public from hiding. In a recent social media post, she outlined a vision for a post-Maduro Venezuela and called for accountability for crimes against humanity under the current regime.

With tensions escalating on multiple fronts, the situation remains precarious as both Maduro's government and US intentions come under scrutiny.