“We need to start talking seriously, with facts in hand,” Maduro said in his annual interview with a Spanish journalist, originally published in Mexican newspaper La Jornada and broadcast on Venezuelan state television on New Year's Day.
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“If they want to talk seriously about an agreement to fight drug trafficking, we are ready… If they want Venezuelan oil, Venezuela is ready to accept American investments like those from Chevron, when, where and how they want to make them,” he added.
These comments refer to Maduro's earlier statements about his readiness for dialogue with Donald Trump, even though the US president has increased the pressure on Maduro. This pressure meant, among other things: extending sanctions, increasing the presence of US troops in the region and carrying out more than twenty attacks on ships allegedly involved in drug smuggling in the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea – writes Reuters.
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Maduro says the pressure is aimed at gaining control over Venezuela's vast natural resources. Despite having them, the economic policy is so bad that the inhabitants live in poverty.
— What is the goal of the United States? They said it,” Maduro said in an interview. — Seize all of Venezuela's oil… gold, rare earths.
“Drug dealing? That's not us”
Trump this week said U.S. forces had attacked a drug dock in Venezuela, but he did not provide details of its location. Maduro did not confirm the attack in the interview but said he might discuss the issue in the coming days.
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“I can say that our national defense system, which consists of popular, military and police forces, has and will continue to guarantee the territorial integrity and peace of the country,” Maduro said.
A blog affiliated with Venezuela's ruling party reported this week that the site of the attack was a narrow strip of coastline on the La Guajira peninsula.
Maduro has always denied US accusations of running a drug state. He stated that cocaine smuggled through the region comes from neighboring Colombia and that Venezuela has an “ideal model” for fighting drug trafficking.
Venezuelan oil exports have halved
U.S. sanctions and the recent seizure of tankers have halved the normal rate of crude oil exports from Venezuela. However, exports continued with the American giant Chevron, which has a special license from the United States to export Venezuelan oil.
Foreign currency flows to the Venezuelan private sector are expected to decline as oil exports decline, fueling inflation and worsening Venezuelans' already difficult economic situation. The bolivar currency lost 83 percent of its value. in 2025.
Venezuela's outstanding international bonds are trading at very low levels, although they have doubled in value since Trump took office in January 2025. This is fueled by hopes for a change of government. It is indicated that the last elections in Venezuela were rigged.
