US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro but declined to share details about the discussion. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said simply, “I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes.”
Trump Confirms Contact but Keeps Details Private
The New York Times earlier reported that Trump and Maduro had spoken by phone earlier this month, discussing the possibility of a meeting in the United States. When asked how the call went, Trump said, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly, it was a phone call.”
The revelation comes as Trump continues to mix harsh rhetoric with occasional diplomatic signals toward Venezuela. His administration has maintained strong pressure on Maduro, whom it accuses of facilitating drug trafficking operations. Maduro has denied the accusations, calling them politically motivated.
Confusion Over “Closed Airspace” Remarks
On Saturday, Trump declared that airspace above and around Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety,” without offering further explanation. The statement caused alarm and uncertainty in Caracas. When asked if his comment signalled imminent military action, Trump replied, “Don’t read anything into it.”
Reports from Reuters indicate that Washington has been reviewing several options to challenge Maduro’s government, including covert efforts to remove him from power. The US military has already increased its presence in the Caribbean, carrying out months of strikes on suspected drug boats near Venezuela’s coast.
Human Rights Concerns and Military Operations
Human rights organisations have condemned these US strikes as illegal and potentially involving extrajudicial killings. Several US allies have also voiced concern that Washington may be breaching international law.
Trump said he would review claims that US forces had conducted a second strike in September that killed survivors of an earlier operation. “I would not have wanted such a strike,” he said.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the operations, describing them as “lawful” and “lethal.” Trump recently told service members that land operations aimed at stopping Venezuelan drug traffickers would begin “very soon.”
Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials have not commented on the reported phone call. When asked about it, National Assembly head Jorge Rodriguez said the matter was not part of his press conference, which focused instead on a parliamentary investigation into the US boat strikes.
(with inputs from Reuters)
