Venezuela not involved in drug trafficking: Maduro offers Trump 'direct talks'
Photo: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (Getty Images)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has proposed holding direct talks with Donald Trump’s administration, rejecting US accusations of his country’s involvement in large-scale drug trafficking, according to Reuters.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro sent a letter to Donald Trump following the first US strike on a Venezuelan vessel that Washington claimed was carrying drug traffickers. In his message, Maduro proposed direct talks through US special envoy Richard Grenell, stressing that such issues could always be addressed openly and directly to avoid "media noise and fake news."
Denial of drug trafficking ties
Maduro strongly rejected US allegations about Venezuela’s role in international drug trafficking. He argued that only 5% of Colombian narcotics pass through Venezuela, of which 70% had been intercepted by Venezuelan forces. He also claimed that none of the individuals killed in the US strike were linked to the Tren de Aragua gang, as Washington alleged.
US-Venezuela diplomacy
Maduro’s letter was dated September 6, four days after the first US strike. In response, Trump warned Venezuela of “countless consequences” if the country refused to take back all its prisoners. Meanwhile, the US has been building up its military presence in the southern Caribbean, deploying seven warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 fighter jets.
Maduro pointed to the effectiveness of the Grenell channel, which had facilitated deportation flights of Venezuelan nationals from the US and secured the release of seven US citizens, including Air Force veteran Joe St. Clair, who had been held in Venezuela since November 2024.
Experts note that while neither side seeks open war, the military buildup raises the risk of accidental clashes. Analysts add that Washington appears to be trying to pressure Venezuela’s opposition toward regime change, a strategy that has not succeeded in the past.
Escalation between Venezuela and US
Tensions between Caracas and Washington escalated after Trump accused Venezuela of insufficient efforts to combat drug trafficking. The US president signed a directive authorizing direct military operations against Latin American drug cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
In turn, Maduro announced a large-scale mobilization, ordering 25,000 troops to the Colombian border. Recently, US Vice President JD Vance said that operations against cartels represent the best use of American military power.
For more on why tensions suddenly flared and how the situation might unfold, see the full report by RBC-Ukraine.
