On Wednesday, Nicolas Maduro, the socialist leader of Venezuela, said that his recent phone chat with President Donald Trump was quite “friendly” and “cordial.”
President Trump confirmed the conversation took place on Sunday, while speaking to reporters on Air Force One. He didn’t get into the specifics of their discussion, only noting, “I’m not saying it went well or it went badly. It was a phone call.”
For the first time, Maduro acknowledged speaking with Trump during an event that was broadcast on state media. According to a government-funded news outlet, Maduro mentioned that the call was initiated by the White House and referenced his previous experience as foreign minister under the late Hugo Chávez.
Maduro stated, “I received a phone call and spoke with President Donald Trump. I can say that the conversation was in a respectful tone,” adding, “There was amicability between the president of the United States and the president of Venezuela.”
He further expressed, “If this call means we’re moving towards respectful dialogue from one nation to another, then such dialogue is welcome. We always seek peace.”
In what seemed like a new attempt at English, Maduro humorously said, “Welcome Diolopus, welcome diplomat, welcome Pit. Pit? Yes. War? Never, nothing like that.”
During the broadcast, he elaborated on the “wisdom of diplomacy” he had learned in his six years as foreign minister, attributing his skills to “the diplomatic school and our master, General Chávez.”
Maduro emphasized his appreciation for prudence, saying, “I don’t like microphone diplomacy. When important issues arise, silence is necessary until they’re resolved.”
Recently, tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela have been rising. U.S. troops have been deployed to the Caribbean to address drug trafficking issues. Maduro has faced serious accusations from U.S. authorities, being indicted in a court for multiple drug-related charges, linked to a significant cocaine-trafficking organization.
Maduro and his regime argue that U.S. military actions against these drug traffickers are, in reality, a cover for an alleged invasion aimed at toppling him and seizing Venezuela’s resources.
Reports indicate that Trump might have given Maduro an “ultimatum,” urging him to leave Venezuela. In exchange, it’s suggested that safe passage for him and his family, as well as amnesty conditions, could be on the table, alongside the lifting of sanctions affecting over 100 of Maduro’s associates.
