Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Thursday he was open to talks with the US on drug trafficking and oil, after weeks of an escalating pressure campaign against his government.
In an interview with Venezuelan state TV, Maduro said he was ready for dialogue with the US 'wherever they want and whenever they want'. He also evaded a question about a statement by President Donald Trump that the US had hit a docking facility in Venezuela - the first such attack inside the country reportedly carried out by the CIA. US forces have been hitting vessels they suspect of smuggling narcotics through the Caribbean and eastern Pacific for the past three months.
In total, there have been more than 30 strikes on vessels as part of the Trump administration's 'war on drugs', with more than 110 people killed since the US carried out its first attack on a boat in international waters on 2 September.
The latest attack came on Wednesday when two boats alleged to be carrying drugs were struck, killing five people on board, according to the US military. On Monday, Trump mentioned that the US had carried out a strike on a 'dock area' linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats, causing a 'major explosion'. This blow was said to be caused by a drone strike carried out by the CIA. Maduro was elusive in the interview, conveniently not confirming the attack.
Moreover, he indicated openness to discussing oil and migration issues. Recent US efforts have focused on combating the influx of drugs such as fentanyl into the country. This has included doubling the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture and designating his government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Maduro has consistently denied being involved in drug trafficking and suggested that US efforts are aimed at displacing him to seize Venezuela's oil reserves. Also, experts denote that Venezuela plays a somewhat limited role in global drug trafficking, primarily serving as a transit route for drugs produced in Colombia, the world’s leading cocaine producer.
Trump has alleged that Maduro is manipulating the situation by 'emptying his prisons and insane asylums' to drive migrants to the US, where around eight million Venezuelans have fled due to economic and political crises. Concurrently, the US has stepped up vigilance over sanctioned oil tankers operating out of Venezuela after seizing multiple vessels believed to be transporting sanctioned oil. Legal experts warn that these operations might breach international laws governing armed conflict, and the US has yet to provide solid evidence to substantiate claims regarding the targeted vessels.
In an interview with Venezuelan state TV, Maduro said he was ready for dialogue with the US 'wherever they want and whenever they want'. He also evaded a question about a statement by President Donald Trump that the US had hit a docking facility in Venezuela - the first such attack inside the country reportedly carried out by the CIA. US forces have been hitting vessels they suspect of smuggling narcotics through the Caribbean and eastern Pacific for the past three months.
In total, there have been more than 30 strikes on vessels as part of the Trump administration's 'war on drugs', with more than 110 people killed since the US carried out its first attack on a boat in international waters on 2 September.
The latest attack came on Wednesday when two boats alleged to be carrying drugs were struck, killing five people on board, according to the US military. On Monday, Trump mentioned that the US had carried out a strike on a 'dock area' linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats, causing a 'major explosion'. This blow was said to be caused by a drone strike carried out by the CIA. Maduro was elusive in the interview, conveniently not confirming the attack.
Moreover, he indicated openness to discussing oil and migration issues. Recent US efforts have focused on combating the influx of drugs such as fentanyl into the country. This has included doubling the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture and designating his government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
Maduro has consistently denied being involved in drug trafficking and suggested that US efforts are aimed at displacing him to seize Venezuela's oil reserves. Also, experts denote that Venezuela plays a somewhat limited role in global drug trafficking, primarily serving as a transit route for drugs produced in Colombia, the world’s leading cocaine producer.
Trump has alleged that Maduro is manipulating the situation by 'emptying his prisons and insane asylums' to drive migrants to the US, where around eight million Venezuelans have fled due to economic and political crises. Concurrently, the US has stepped up vigilance over sanctioned oil tankers operating out of Venezuela after seizing multiple vessels believed to be transporting sanctioned oil. Legal experts warn that these operations might breach international laws governing armed conflict, and the US has yet to provide solid evidence to substantiate claims regarding the targeted vessels.
