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A secret phone call between Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro, first revealed by The New York Times and later expanded upon by Infobae, uncovered a situation of extreme tension between Washington and Caracas, where diplomatic language was overshadowed by military threats and unprecedented pressures.
According to the reconstruction published by Infobae, Trump was straightforward in his words, warning that the United States will escalate its military actions if Maduro does not leave Caracas in the short term, along with the main figures of the Venezuelan regime.
The conversation took place last weekend and featured the key presence of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, one of the architects of the hardline stance against chavismo.
The call goes far beyond the initial report, which mentioned that both leaders had discussed the possibility of a meeting on U.S. soil. According to Infobae, the White House emphatically denied any intention of a meeting between Trump and Maduro. "It's a fabrication," a spokesperson told the Argentine media.
A direct ultimatum: "Leave Caracas"
According to Infobae, Trump did not propose a dialogue table or a transition plan. What he did was demand the immediate departure of Maduro and his inner circle, which suggests that Diosdado Cabello, Vladimir Padrino, and the Rodríguez brothers, Delcy and Jorge, should also leave, as they have been pointed out by Washington as beneficiaries of illegal businesses related to drugs, arms, and oil.
Hours after the call, the State Department designated the Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), allowing the U.S. to expand military and financial actions against the Chavista leadership. According to Washington, Maduro is the head of that structure, something the Venezuelan leader denies.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has a military presence deployed off the Venezuelan coast, and high-ranking officials ensure that operations will intensify between December and January.
Trump announced during a message to U.S. troops on Thanksgiving that they will now focus on stopping shipments “by land”, insisting that “nothing is off the table.”
This escalation aligns with a dual-track strategy where the U.S. combines military attacks, including bombings in the Caribbean, with diplomatic pressures and covert operations. Reuters reported that the CIA has ramped up activities aimed at preparing "political transition options."
After the first leak about the call became known, Maduro led a military march in Caracas denouncing that Washington “is preparing an invasion.” He reiterated: “We do not want war, but if we are attacked, we will respond with the full power of the nation.”
Colombia and other neighboring countries have expressed concern regarding the legality of U.S. operations and their potential humanitarian impact, especially after reports from the Washington Post about alleged "double tap" attacks in the Caribbean, repeated bombings aimed at eliminating survivors, which the Pentagon has denied.
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