Trump and Maduro spoke in secret phone call – NYT

The leaders of the US and Venezuela reportedly discussed a meeting to diffuse military tensions

US President Donald Trump spoke over the phone late last week with his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, discussing a possible meeting amid growing tensions, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing multiple people familiar with the matter.

Trump has accused Maduro of leading the alleged Cartel de los Soles, which the US designated as a terrorist group on Monday, and threatened strikes against “narcoterrorists” on Venezuelan soil. The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations as a “ridiculous lie,” while Maduro warned the US against launching “a crazy war.”

According to the Times, although there are no plans for a Trump-Maduro meeting at the moment, the secret call may have been part of Trump’s tactic to combine threats and negotiations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, known for his hardline stance towards Venezuela and Cuba, reportedly participated in the conversation.

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Since September, the US has destroyed more than 20 alleged drug-smuggling vessels in international waters of the Caribbean Sea. In a Thanksgiving message to the troops, Trump again hinted that the US could hit targets in Venezuela. “We’ll be starting to stop them by land also. The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon,” he said.

Maduro responded to the US military buildup by placing the army on high alert and launching several drills. Gustavo Petro, the president of neighboring Colombia, also condemned the US strikes on boats, saying that some of the victims were Colombian fishermen.