Venezuela Confirms Direct Dialog Offer to U.S. Amidst Rising Tensions
CARACAS, Venezuela – September 21, 2023 – Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has confirmed sending a letter to U.S. President Donald Trump expressing willingness to engage in direct conversations with Special Envoy richard Grenell, according to a statement released today. The move comes as relations between the two countries remain strained by accusations of drug trafficking and a notable U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean sea.
The letter, dated September 6 and published by Venezuelan official Delcy Rodríguez on Telegram, addresses what Maduro describes as “innumerable ‘fake news'” circulating in the media regarding Venezuela and the U.S. Maduro highlighted a recent instance where false reports claimed Venezuela had refused to accept deported migrants, an issue he said was “resolved and clarified quickly” through interaction with Ambassador Grenell.He stated this channel has “worked impeccably.”
Maduro also addressed recent accusations linking high-ranking Venezuelan officials to ”mafias and drug traffickers,” calling them “absolutely false” and alleging they are intended to “justify an escalation to an armed conflict that would do catastrophic damage to the entire continent.” He asserted Venezuela is a “drug-free territory and (a) non-relevant contry in the field of narcotics,” citing UN data indicating only 5% of drugs leaving colombia “tries to” transit through Venezuela,and that this amount is “intercepted and destroyed” by Venezuelan forces. Maduro claims the Venezuelan military has destroyed 402 aircraft linked to drug trafficking.
President Trump has yet to confirm receipt of the letter, stating only, “We will see what happens to Venezuela.” however, Trump previously stated on Truth Social that venezuela would face consequences if it did not address “prisoners” allegedly sent to the U.S. by “Venezuelan leadership.”
The U.S. has intercepted four vessels since august suspected of involvement in drug trafficking near Venezuelan coasts,with at least three reportedly originating from Venezuela. One vessel sank Friday night in Dominican Republic waters.
(MN/EFE, AFP)
