President Donald Trump is reportedly open to direct talks with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, according to a US official who spoke to DZWatch on the condition of anonymity. The official stated that any potential discussions would inform future policy decisions regarding Venezuela.
Meanwhile, a senior Pentagon official confirmed that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Keene, will be meeting with military leaders during his visit to the Caribbean region today. Discussions will focus on the security situation within the Southern Command’s area of operations.
Tensions remain high in the Caribbean, and amidst ongoing speculation about potential US military action against Venezuela, both Venezuelan authorities and neighboring countries are implementing heightened security measures at border crossings. Despite the current climate, there continues to be a flow of Venezuelans returning to their homeland in anticipation of the holiday season.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the United States has designated the Cartel de los Soles (Cartel of the Suns) in Venezuela as a foreign terrorist organization and imposed additional terrorism-related sanctions. The Trump administration alleges that Maduro leads this cartel, about which little is definitively known, though no concrete evidence has been publicly presented to support this claim.
The Venezuelan government has dismissed the US designation as a “ridiculous” plan targeting a group it claims “does not exist.” US Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously indicated that the US would designate the group as a foreign terrorist organization this month due to its alleged role in supplying illegal narcotics to the United States.
This designation raises concerns that Washington might use it to justify military action against Caracas. However, sanctions experts suggest that the designation statute does not authorize such a move.
Venezuela has vehemently rejected the US decision to include the suspected drug-trafficking cartel on its list of “terrorist” organizations, calling the move a “despicable lie” amidst the ongoing US military buildup in the Caribbean. Maduro and his government have consistently denied any involvement in drug trafficking.
