Maduro Open to Negotiations Amid Escalating US Pressure

Tue Nov 18 2025 18:12:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro expresses willingness for talks with the US as the Trump administration intensifies pressure, threatening military action and increasing financial rewards for capturing Maduro.

Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, has indicated his readiness for face-to-face discussions with the Trump administration as tensions rise following new US policies aimed at ousting him. Amid allegations of drug trafficking and expanding military presence in the region, US President Donald Trump has left open the possibility of ground troops deployed in Venezuela, further complicating the ongoing political landscape. While the US increases financial incentives for information on Maduro, past efforts for dialogue have largely failed, indicating a complex political environment with potential for escalation.

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has said that he is willing to hold face-to-face talks with representatives of the Trump administration as US pressure on him grows.

Maduro made the comment hours after US President Donald Trump said he had not ruled out deploying ground forces to the South American country.

The Trump administration has accused Maduro - whose re-election last year was dismissed as rigged by many countries - of being the leader of a drugs cartel.

Maduro has denied the allegations and has accused the US of trying to incite a war to gain control of Venezuela's oil reserves.

Since Trump was sworn in to a second term in office in January, the US government has been increasing its pressure on Maduro. It has doubled the reward it offers for information leading to his capture to $50 million and launched a counternarcotics operation targeting allegedly drug-laden boats heading towards the US.

More than 80 people have been killed in US strikes on suspected vessels since the operation's inception, raising concerns regarding the legal ramifications of such military actions.

According to US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the aim of Operation Southern Spear is to remove narcoterrorists from the Western Hemisphere, although some legal experts question the evidentiary basis of the actions taken.

This military buildup has drawn speculation about the real intentions behind it, with rumors that it may lead to an effort to remove Maduro from power.

Recently, Trump provided seemingly contradictory statements regarding US intentions in Venezuela, stating he does not rule out potential talks with Maduro while also suggesting military options may be on the table.

Furthermore, the US state department announced that it plans to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, which has significant implications for US engagement with Venezuela.

Despite these tensions, Maduro has called for dialogue, indicating he is ready to engage with anyone in the US willing to discuss the situation. However, previous attempts at negotiations have largely failed.

In the midst of this, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has been rallying support against Maduro, calling for a unified effort to depose the regime.