US President Donald Trump confirmed having held a telephone exchange with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, without revealing any details, as bilateral relations reach a new level of tension. Caracas accuses the United States of preparing a military intervention to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves, the largest in the world.
US military deployment in the Caribbean
Since September, Washington has strengthened its military presence in the Caribbean Sea by deploying warships, including an aircraft carrier. More than 20 strikes have been carried out against vessels at sea, officially as part of anti-drug operations. According to US authorities, these ships are linked to Venezuelan cartels, but no suspects have been arrested or questioned so far.
The Venezuelan airspace has been declared “completely closed” by Washington, a measure that led to the suspension of several air connections. Six airlines have suspended their flights to the country. The repatriation programme for Venezuelan migrants expelled from the United States has also been suspended, although Caracas airport remains operational.
Request for Opec support and Caracas accusations
In a letter addressed to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec), Nicolas Maduro requested assistance to counter what he described as “a planned aggression” by the United States. The letter, read by Vice-President Delcy Rodriguez during a videoconference, claims that Washington is seeking to take control of Venezuela’s oil by force.
Delcy Rodriguez, who also serves as Minister of Petroleum, stated that Nicolas Maduro has ordered a special repatriation plan despite the reduction in commercial flights. Meanwhile, National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez denounced extrajudicial executions linked to US strikes, mentioning the deaths of civilians during operations at sea since early September.
Congress opposition and reported exit offer
Donald Trump announced that ground operations targeting Venezuelan drug traffickers would begin “very soon”, a statement that drew criticism from members of the US Congress, including some Republican lawmakers. Senator Markwayne Mullin claimed that the United States had offered Nicolas Maduro the option to leave the country for Russia or another territory, without receiving a public response.
Amid growing tensions, sources close to the US Department of Defense have mentioned an alleged order to strike a civilian boat with the aim of eliminating all passengers. If confirmed, these accusations would raise legal questions about the legitimacy of actions conducted outside a formally declared war context.
