2025-09-21 10:00
publication
2025-09-21 10:00
The president of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro proposed to US President Donald Trump to take direct talks a few days after the first US attack on a ship from South America, which, according to Trump, belonged to drug traders – Reuters agreed on Saturday.
In the letter dated September 6 to Trump, to which the agency reached, Maduro rejected the US claims that Venezuela played a big role in drug trafficking. He noticed that only 5 percent drugs produced in Colombia are transported by Venezuela, of which 70 percent It was neutralized and destroyed by the Venezuelan authorities.
“Mr. President, I hope that together we will be able to overcome the lies that stained our relationships, which must be historical and peaceful,” Maduro wrote in a letter. “These and other issues will always be the subject of a direct and honest conversation with your special envoy (Richard Grenell) to overcome the media noise and fake news.”
The White House did not comment on the Letter of the Venezuelan leader.
On Saturday, Trump warned in a post on his Truth Social platform that Venezuela must accept the return of all prisoners, whom he claimed – forced to enter the US, otherwise he would pay a “unpredictable” price. On Friday, Trump confirmed the third attack on the allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela as part of the intensive increase in the presence of the US armed forces in the southern Caribbean, covering seven war ships, a submarine of an atomic drive and fighter.
The Venezuela government, which claims to send tens of thousands of soldiers to fight drug trafficking and defense of the country, stated that none of the people killed in the first attack belonged to the Tren de Aragua gang. He also denies the accusations of linking high -ranking representatives of Venezuelan authorities with drug gangs.
Maduro repeated many times that the United States hope to move him away from power. Trump denied this week that he was interested in changing the regime, but Washington doubled the award for information leading to Maduro to $ 50 million, accusing him of connecting to drug trafficking and criminal groups last month.
“This is the most glaring example of disinformation directed against our nation, aimed at justifying the escalation of the armed conflict that would cause catastrophic damage throughout the continent,” Maduro wrote.
Trump's administration seems to be divided into Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and defense secretary Pete HegeSth conduct campaigns of pressure on Maduro, while the special envoy Grenell, acting as the Director of the National Intelligence during Trump's first term and others, press diplomatic activities.
“Maduro clearly attempts,” said Geoff Ramsey, an older researcher at the Think Tank Atlantic Council. “The question for the White House is: how will they win here? Maduro will not want to give his head on the tray of Venezuelan opposition or Americans.”
Ramsey said that the purpose of the US actions was to encourage the opposition to overthrow Maduro, but this strategy was unsuccessfully tried for decades. Henry Ziemer, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noticed that Trump is clearly avoiding entanglements, but more targeted attacks are likely. “I don't think Trump wanted war, and Maduro certainly doesn't want her,” said Ziemer. – The risk is that we will find ourselves in a situation where both Maduro and Trump will feel that they cannot withdraw. (PAP)
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