Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro Expresses Willingness to Negotiate with the US on Combating Drug Trafficking
According to a recent interview aired on state television, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has stated that his country is open to negotiating an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking. This announcement comes amid a backdrop of heightened tensions between the two nations, with the US having launched a series of strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean Sea.
In the interview, which was conducted by Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet and taped on New Year’s Eve, Maduro reiterated his stance that the US is seeking to force a government change in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves. He accused the US of using “threats, intimidation, and force” to achieve its goals, but expressed his willingness to engage in serious discussions with the US on the issue of drug trafficking.
US Strikes Against Alleged Drug-Smuggling Boats
The US military has announced a total of 35 strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats, resulting in the deaths of at least 115 people, including Venezuelans. President Donald Trump has justified these attacks as a necessary escalation to stem the flow of drugs into the US, claiming that the country is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. The strikes, which began off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, have since expanded to the eastern Pacific Ocean.
Furthermore, it has been reported that the CIA was behind a drone strike last week at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels. This marks a significant escalation in the US pressure campaign on Maduro, who has been charged with narco-terrorism in the US. When asked about the operation, Maduro declined to comment, stating that he would be able to discuss it in a few days.
Potential for US Investment in Venezuela’s Oil Industry
Maduro also expressed his willingness to allow US investment in Venezuela’s oil industry, citing the example of Chevron Corp., which is currently the only major oil company exporting Venezuelan crude to the US. Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, and Maduro stated that his country is “ready for US investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it, and however they want it.”
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