The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated on Monday that he had a “very recent” conversation with the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, although he claimed that the dialogue was not fruitful and did not lead to a reduction of the pressure Washington maintains on Caracas.
"I spoke with him. Very recently. But not much came out of that," Trump stated to the press when asked about a possible phone contact with Maduro, reported Forbes citing the agency EFE.
The statements were made at the beginning of a meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his residence in Florida, coinciding with the rise in tensions between the United States and Venezuela.
Attack on a dock linked to drug trafficking
Trump linked the lack of progress in the conversation to recent military actions, including an attack that occurred last Wednesday against a dock allegedly used for drug trafficking, according to BBC.
According to the leader, the United States attacked a “large facility” used for loading vessels with narcotics. While he did not specify whether the target was located in Venezuelan territory, he did indicate that the operation took place “along the coastline.”
"There was a massive explosion in the dock area where the ships load drugs. That is the operational zone, and it no longer exists," he stated.
So far, neither the Pentagon nor other U.S. government agencies have officially confirmed the attack, nor has the regime in Caracas. If confirmed, it could be the first direct military action by the United States against a ground target linked to Venezuela.
Escalation of pressure against the Venezuelan regime
For weeks, Trump has warned that his administration would intensify the offensive against drug trafficking networks associated with the Maduro regime. According to Washington, this campaign has included the destruction of around 30 boats allegedly used for drug trafficking and the death of more than a hundred crew members in operations in the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The U.S. government claims that Maduro, high officials in his administration, and the leadership of the Venezuelan Armed Forces lead the so-called Cartel of the Suns, an organization that Washington has designated as a terrorist group. The Venezuelan regime denies these accusations.
Trump's statements confirm that, despite direct contacts between both leaders, there are no signs of de-escalation and that the strategy of pressure—political, economic, and military—by the United States against Maduro's regime continues to escalate.
Filed under:
