— I don't want to comment on it, the answer is yes, he told reporters when asked about reports that he had talked to Maduro.
On Saturday, Trump posted on his Truth Social social media site the following message: “To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human traffickers: please consider the airspace over and around Venezuela completely closed. Thank you for your attention!” The president did not explain the reasons for his post and did not provide further details.
The article continues below the video
Who talked to Nicolas Maduro?
What details of the conversation did Donald Trump reveal?
What warning did Trump issue regarding the airspace over Venezuela?
Was the meeting of leaders in the US discussed during the conversation?
Tension between the US and Venezuela
When asked on Sunday by journalists aboard Air Force One why the airspace over Venezuela should be considered closed, he replied: – Because we consider Venezuela not a very friendly country. When asked whether the warning he issued meant an upcoming air attack on Venezuela, he replied “don't read anything into it.”
On Friday, the New York Times, citing sources, wrote that Trump had a telephone conversation with the leader of Venezuela last week. During the conversation, a potential meeting of leaders in the US was discussed, but no specific plans were made, we read.
The conversation took place a few days before the decision of the US Department of State to recognize the Venezuelan Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) as a terrorist organization came into force. According to the authorities in Washington, its members include: high-ranking officials of the Venezuelan government, and the group is to be headed by the country's leader, Maduro. Caracas categorically denies these allegations and claims that the accusations of involvement in drug trafficking are a pretext for a violent change of power in Venezuela and taking control of Venezuelan oil deposits.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Trump said during a conversation with Maduro that if he did not relinquish power, the US would consider other options, including the use of force. The leaders were also supposed to talk about amnesty for Maduro and his associates.
