Trump proposes possible talks with Venezuela, but leaves military action on the table

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Monday did not rule out military action against Venezuela despite floating a possible diplomatic overture with leader Nicolas Maduro, who insisted that the U.S. military buildup and strikes on alleged drug boats near his South American country are aimed at pushing him from office.

Trump reiterated that he would “likely talk” with Maduro, but stressed that he did not rule out the possibility of military action on Venezuelan territory.

Read more: All US military strikes against alleged drug boats

“I don’t rule it out. I don’t rule anything out,” Trump told reporters a day after he first raised the possibility of “discussions” with Maduro. However, Trump sidestepped questions about whether Maduro could say anything to him that would cause the United States to back down from its military show of force.

“He has caused tremendous damage to our country,” Trump said, linking Maduro to drugs and migrants coming to the United States from Venezuela. He added: “He did not do well with the United States, so we will see what happens.”

These comments deepened uncertainty about the Trump administration’s next steps toward the Maduro government. The United States has intensified its pressure in recent days, saying it expects to designate a cartel it says is led by Maduro and other high-ranking Venezuelan government officials as a terrorist organization.

The USS Gerald R. Ford and its escorting warships arrived in the Caribbean this weekend as the US military announced the latest in a series of strikes against ships suspected of transporting drugs.

“It can turn politics on a dime.”

The administration says its actions are an anti-drug operation aimed at preventing the flow of drugs into American cities, but some analysts, Venezuelans and the country’s political opposition see them as an escalating pressure tactic against Maduro.

Jeff Ramsey, an expert on US policy toward Venezuela and a non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the Trump administration has shown it “can turn policy on its head.” He pointed to the administration’s diplomatic talks with Iran “up until the moment” when the US military targeted Iranian nuclear facilities in June.

But Ramsey added that the timing of Trump’s comments — after Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the impending terrorist designation of the Cartel de los Soles — underscores that the administration does not want a repeat of failed attempts at dialogue.

“They really want to negotiate from a place of strength, and I think the White House is giving Maduro an ultimatum,” Ramsey said. “Either he engages in credible talks about the transition, or the United States will have no choice but to escalate.”

Maduro has negotiated with the United States and Venezuela’s political opposition for several years, most notably in the two years leading up to the July 2024 presidential elections. Those negotiations resulted in agreements intended to pave the way for free and democratic elections, but Maduro repeatedly tested their limits, ultimately declaring victory despite credible evidence that he lost the election by a 2-to-1 margin.

Among the concessions made by the United States to Maduro during the negotiations was approval for the giant oil company Chevron to resume pumping and exporting Venezuelan oil. The company’s activities in the South American country have resulted in a financial lifeline for the Maduro government.

Neither Maduro nor his chief negotiator, National Assembly Speaker Jorge Rodriguez, commented on Trump’s statements on Monday. A spokeswoman for Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado told reporters on Monday that she would not comment on Trump’s statements.

Doubts and hope in Venezuela regarding possible talks

Trump’s goal on Venezuela remains unclear, but above all, Ramsey said, the president is “looking to win.”

“And he may be flexible about exactly what that looks like,” Ramsey said. “I can envision the United States seeking greater control over Venezuela’s natural resources, including oil, as well as greater cooperation with the president’s immigration and security goals.”

In the Venezuelan capital, Caracas, people responded with skepticism and hope about the possibility of a new dialogue between the United States and Maduro, whose government has sparked rumors of a ground invasion even though the Trump administration has offered few clear indications of such a plan.

“If (the dialogue) actually happens, I hope the government will actually follow through on it during this time,” shop owner Gustavo Garcia, 38, said as he left the church. “We have to be serious. They got us used to their talk, but they don’t respect agreements. You can’t mess with Trump.”

“It’s always better to talk,” said mother Mary Martinez, 41, who lives at the house.

“Anything that helps prevent a tragedy is a good thing,” Martinez said. “Venezuelans don’t deserve this. War benefits no one.”

Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela. Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda in Caracas contributed to this report.