US President Donald Trump on Sunday hinted at the possibility of talks with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as the US continues to increase its military presence near Caracas in South America, amid rising tensions between Washington and Caracas.
Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force On at Palm Beach International Airport en route to the White House: “We may have some discussions with President Maduro and we’ll see what the outcome is. They want to have a conversation.”
Pressed by reporters for details, President Trump did not provide further details.
“Venezuela wants talks. What does that mean? Tell me. I don’t know,” he simply said. “I’ll talk to anyone. I’ll talk to you, right? I’ll talk to anyone. We’ll see what happens.”
This comes amid a series of attacks by the United States on vessels suspected of transporting drugs.
On Saturday, the Trump administration announced its latest deadly attack in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Four people were killed, bringing the total number of deaths from Operation Southern Spear to 80.
The U.S. Navy also announced in a statement that the country’s most advanced aircraft, the USS Gerald R. Ford, and other ships had arrived in the Caribbean. Earlier, the United States had already deployed eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and an F-35 fighter jet to the region.
Ford’s arrival marks the largest increase in U.S. firepower in the region in generations. The deployment brought nearly a dozen Navy ships and approximately 12,000 sailors and Marines to participate in Operation Southern Spear.
The U.S. Navy’s largest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, has arrived in the Caribbean with a battle group, 5,000 troops and dozens of fighter jets on deck, the Pentagon announced Sunday. When those forces are added,
Also on Sunday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Maduro of leading a cartel and announced that the State Department would designate the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
“This group, led by the outlawed Nicolás Maduro, is responsible for corrupting Venezuelan government institutions, terrorist violence carried out by or with other designated FTOs, and drug trafficking to the United States and Europe,” he wrote to X.
Asked by a reporter whether the cartel designation and ties to President Maduro could lead the U.S. government to target the Venezuelan leader’s assets, Trump said: “That would be possible. But we’re not saying we’re going to do that.”
The White House maintains that the United States is at war with drug cartels and that operations in armed conflict do not require Congressional approval. At the same time, Washington accused the Venezuelan government of collaborating with drug traffickers.
President Maduro and the Venezuelan government have repeatedly denied the allegations. Caracas also announced it was preparing for a possible conflict with US forces.