Maduro Signals Openness to Direct Talks as US Pressure Intensifies

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro has said he is willing to meet face to face with officials from the Trump administration, a surprising shift as Washington increases its pressure campaign. His comments came just hours after President Donald Trump said he would not rule out sending US ground forces into Venezuela, raising fresh concerns about escalating tensions.

For years, the United States has accused Maduro of leading a major narcotics network and using state institutions to shield drug trafficking operations. Maduro firmly denies the allegations and insists the US is trying to provoke conflict to gain control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. Since Trump entered his second term in January, the US has sharply intensified its efforts to isolate Maduro, doubling the reward for information leading to his capture to fifty million dollars.

The US has also launched a counternarcotics campaign targeting boats it claims are transporting drugs from Venezuela to the United States. More than eighty people have been killed in strikes on suspected vessels, mostly in the Caribbean but also in the Pacific. Trump officials say these actions are part of Operation Southern Spear, intended to remove narcoterrorists from the region. But legal analysts argue the US has presented no clear evidence that the targeted boats were carrying illegal substances, raising questions about the legality and effectiveness of the strikes. They also note that many drugs entering the US still come across the land border with Mexico, which is not addressed by the naval campaign.

The scale of the military deployment, which includes the USS Gerald Ford, the largest aircraft carrier in the US Navy, has fuelled speculation that Washington may be preparing for more aggressive action aimed at removing Maduro from office. Trump has provided mixed messages, saying one day that he does not expect war and on another that no option is off the table. Yet when asked whether he would speak to Maduro directly, he replied that he probably would and that he talks to everyone.

Meanwhile, the US state department has announced its intention to classify the Venezuelan group known as Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation. The group is alleged to have deep ties to the Venezuelan leadership, including Maduro himself. The designation is set to take effect on 24 November. Analysts see the delay as a signal to Maduro to engage in negotiations or face harsher measures.

If the designation goes ahead, US citizens will be prohibited from providing any support to the organisation. The White House says its policy would then be to ensure the complete removal of the group’s presence and influence. Some experts believe the US could use the designation to justify future military actions inside Venezuela.