Maduro open to drug trafficking talks but stays silent on reported US strike

Venezuela is ready to work with the US on fighting drug trafficking, President Nicolás Maduro has said. However, he refused to address reports of a CIA drone attack on Venezuelan territory that Donald Trump says targeted cartel operations.

Speaking to Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet in a pre-recorded interview, Maduro repeated his view that Washington wants to topple his government and seize control of the country’s massive oil reserves. He pointed to a major US military deployment in the Caribbean that began in August as proof of mounting pressure.

“What are they after? They clearly want to force their way in through threats, intimidation and brute force,” Maduro said, adding that the two countries need to “start talking seriously, with data in hand.”

The Trump administration claims Maduro runs a drug cartel and says it’s tackling trafficking. Maduro denies the accusations.

“The US government knows we’ve told their people many times—if they want a serious deal on fighting drug trafficking, we’re ready,” he said. “If they want oil, Venezuela’s open to US investment, like we have with Chevron. Anytime, anywhere, however they want.”

Chevron is the only major oil company still shipping Venezuelan crude to the US. Venezuela sits on the world’s largest proven oil reserves.

When asked about the alleged US attack, Trump claimed on Monday that American forces hit a docking facility used by drug boats last month. Maduro reportedly dodged the question.

“That’s something we might discuss in a few days,” he said.

US media outlets, including the Associated Press, have reported the CIA carried out a drone strike on the facility.

If true, it would be the first US land strike in Venezuela and would escalate a campaign that’s already seen a huge American naval presence deployed since August, airstrikes on suspected traffickers, a blockade of oil tankers under sanctions, and the seizure of multiple vessels.

Maduro said he hasn’t spoken to Trump since a phone call on 12 November, which he described as friendly and respectful.

“That conversation was quite pleasant, actually. But things haven’t been pleasant since. We’ll see what happens,” he said.

The interview took place on New Year’s Eve, the same day US forces struck five more suspected drug-smuggling boats. Those attacks brought the total to 35 boat strikes and at least 115 people killed, according to Trump administration figures. Some victims were Venezuelan.

Trump says the strikes are needed to stop drugs from flowing into the US and claims America is in an “armed conflict” with the cartels. The attacks started off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast before spreading to the eastern Pacific.

(information from The Guardian)