US will launch new phase of operations in Venezuela soon, agency says

The offer would have been made as part of informal negotiations to seek a diplomatic way out of the crisis in the region. The proposal indicates that Maduro is willing to negotiate a gradual transition in exchange for some guarantees. Among them, the Venezuelan leader could offer access to his country’s oil wealth to American energy companies.

Despite this, any delay in Maduro’s departure from power is unacceptable for the White House. According to the North American newspaper, despite the apparent impasse, parallel negotiations show that a diplomatic solution is still possible.

Even with the outcome uncertain, the White House defined a strategy to intensify pressure on Maduro, says the NYT. The US is carrying out a campaign of attacks against suspected drug trafficking boats off the Venezuelan coast and the Pacific coast of Latin America.

Trump said he does not rule out the possibility of sending troops to Venezuela. At the same time, he was willing to listen directly to Nicolás Maduro about the Venezuelan leader’s proposals to avoid a new US military escalation. Asked whether he would speak directly to Maduro, Trump told reporters at the White House: “I would probably talk to him, yes. I talk to everybody.”

Maduro talks about diplomacy

Venezuela’s dictator said differences must be resolved through diplomacy. Maduro also stated that he is willing to hold face-to-face conversations with anyone interested. “In the USA, anyone who wants to talk to Venezuela will talk, face to face, without any problem,” he said on his weekly state television program.