By Robert BirselShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberPresident Donald Trump has said he spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but he declined to give any details of their discussion.
Newsweek has reached out to the government of Venezuela by email for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump said on Saturday the airspace above and around Venezuela is to be "closed in its entirety,” raising the prospect of an imminent U.S. attack. The United States has deployed more than a dozen U.S. warships and 15,000 troops in the Caribbean as part of "Operation Southern Spear."
The confrontation has become the most volatile flashpoints in the Americas. U.S. pressure on Caracas stems from accusations that Maduro and senior officials are linked to narcotrafficking networks. Maduro denies that.
Venezuelan leaders say the United States is intent on seizing their nation’s vast natural resources. Maduro has mobilized supporters and is framing the crisis as a battle for sovereignty, using rallies to project internal unity despite deep economic strain and international isolation.
...What To Know
Trump, asked on Sunday if he had spoken to the Venezuelan leader, told reporters on Air Force One that he had.
"I don't want to comment on it. The answer is yes," Trump said.
"I wouldn't say it went well or badly, it was a phone call," Trump said of the conversation.
Asked if his comment about Venezuela's airspace being “closed” meant that a U.S. attack on the country was imminent, Trump said: "Don't read anything into it."
The New York Times reported on Friday that Trump spoke with Maduro at an unspecified point late in the third week of November.
Maduro and senior members of his administration have not commented on the call, which does not appear to have helped ease the situation.
U.S. military operations in the Caribbean have included at least 21 strikes on suspected drug-running boats since September, killing at least 83 people, according to Reuters.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Friday that the U.S. strikes are “lawful” after The Washington Post reported that he ordered military officials to leave "no survivors" during a strike on an alleged drug boat in September.
What People Are Saying
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro told supporters on Tuesday: "We must be ready to defend every inch of this blessed land from imperialist threat or aggression, no matter where it comes from."
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News on Sunday: “The drugs that are flowing into our country from these terrorists are killing our children—and if Democrats won't protect our children, Donald Trump will by any means we need to within the legal realm of our society…Venezuelan drug dealers need to trade very, very carefully."
What Happens Next
The confrontation between the United States and Venezuela shows no sign of easing. Venezuela continues its military mobilization while the U.S. maintains its military presence and bellicose rhetoric.
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