Maduro Open to Dialogue Amid Increased US Pressure

Tue Nov 18 2025 18:48:28 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As US President Trump intensifies pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, the latter expresses willingness to negotiate, hinting at the possibility of direct talks amidst military maneuvers.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has shown readiness to engage in negotiations with the Trump administration as the U.S. steps up its efforts against his regime, including military operations and accusations of drug trafficking. The looming threat of U.S. military action raises questions about the future of U.S.-Venezuela relations and the strategies employed by both leaders.

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 stated 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 allegation, claiming the US aims to incite a war to gain control of Venezuela's resources.

Since Trump took office for a second term, the US has doubled the bounty for information leading to Maduro's capture to $50 million. It also launched a counternarcotics operation targeting boats allegedly transporting drugs from Venezuela.

More than 80 individuals have reportedly died in US-led strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific regions, leading some to speculate that these military actions may aim at ousting Maduro.

However, legal experts question the legality of the strikes and their effectiveness in countering drug flow, which primarily crosses the US-Mexico border.

Trump has given mixed responses regarding military intervention, leading observers to interpret Maduro's willingness to negotiate as an ultimatum from the US: engage in talks or face harsher measures.

Amidst these tensions, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, currently hiding to avoid arrest, has called for military support against Maduro and has shared her vision for a post-Maduro Venezuela.

As diplomatic contacts rise, with Maduro emphasizing a desire for dialogue, the complexities of US-Venezuela relations continue to unfold with action on both domestic and international fronts.