Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has confirmed he spoke by phone with United States President Donald Trump late last month, amid a US military buildup that had raised fears of possible conflict.
Maduro told state-run Venezolana de Television that he chose to reveal the “cordial” call — which he said took place about 10 days earlier — because international media had reported certain details and he wished to avoid “microphone diplomacy.” He said his years as foreign minister and his mentorship under the late Hugo Chavez taught him diplomatic prudence.
“I don’t like diplomacy with microphones; when there are important matters, they must be handled quietly until they are resolved,” Maduro said. He welcomed the possibility that the conversation could be the start of a “respectful dialogue” and reiterated that Venezuela would always seek peace. He declined to give further details, citing “prudence” and “respect,” and invoked God and Chavez in expressing hope for Venezuela’s peace, independence, dignity and future.
Trump had said on Sunday that he had spoken with Maduro but provided few specifics. At a White House news conference, he said he “spoke to him briefly, just told him a couple of things, and we’ll see what happens,” adding: “Venezuela sends us drugs, but Venezuela sends us people that they shouldn’t be sending.”
The remarks come against a backdrop of increased US military activity in the region: Trump deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, authorised the destruction of alleged drug-smuggling vessels travelling from Venezuela and other Latin American countries, and threatened strikes on Venezuelan soil as part of a campaign of pressure on Maduro’s government. The Trump administration frames the campaign as an effort to combat drug trafficking.
While Venezuela produces little of the world’s cocaine, a US government estimate said it served as a transit point for about 10-13 percent of estimated production in 2020. Maduro has accused Trump of using the anti-drug campaign as a pretext to try to oust his government and seize Venezuela’s oil reserves.
In a defiant address to a rally in Caracas, Maduro said Venezuela wants peace but only with “sovereignty, equality and freedom.” “We do not want a slave’s peace, nor the peace of colonies! Colony, never! Slaves, never!” he said.