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Venezuela’s Maduro Offers Olive Branch to US Amid Tensions, Renews Claims of Oil Grab
CARACAS – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has signaled a willingness to negotiate with the United States on issues ranging from drug trafficking and oil to migration, extending a more conciliatory tone amid escalating tensions between the two nations. This offer comes despite Maduro’s continued accusations that the US seeks to overthrow his government to seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves through sanctions and military pressure.
“Wherever they want and whenever they want,” Maduro stated in an interview regarding potential dialogue with the US on these critical issues. He stressed the need for serious discussions “with data in hand.”
The shift in tone coincides with Venezuela’s release of over 80 prisoners accused of protesting the contested 2024 election. Maduro also indicated a willingness to welcome US investment in Venezuela’s oil sector, referencing Chevron as an example.
However, Maduro skirted questions regarding a reported CIA-led strike on Venezuelan soil. While the US has launched numerous strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats originating from Venezuela, the Trump administration has neither confirmed nor denied reports that the attack was a CIA operation. The incident, which targeted a docking facility allegedly used for drug boats, represents the first known attack on Venezuelan territory under the current US campaign.
President Trump has repeatedly threatened strikes on drug cartels in the region, claiming, without evidence, that Maduro leads a drug trafficking organization aiming to destabilize the US. Maduro, in turn, has accused the US of seeking to impose itself on Venezuela through “threats, intimidation, and force.”
These developments come amid a backdrop of increased US military actions, including the striking of five alleged drug-smuggling boats on New Year’s Eve alone, resulting in multiple fatalities. The Trump administration claims these actions are necessary to combat “narcoterrorists,” while rights groups have decried them as extrajudicial killings. These actions are also disputed as Venezuela is not known to be involved in the illicit fentanyl trade, which far and away accounts for the highest number of overdose deaths in the US.
The ongoing tensions underscore the complex relationship between the US and Venezuela, characterized by both conflict and the potential for cooperation on issues of mutual concern.
First Piper 