At a Glance
- President Nicolás Maduro says Venezuela is ready to negotiate a drug-trafficking agreement with the United States.
- The U.S. has carried out 35 boat strikes, killing at least 115 people, including Venezuelans.
- The CIA conducted a drone strike on a Venezuelan docking area, the first direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the boat strikes began.
- Why it matters: The comments come amid escalating U.S. military actions and a potential opening for diplomatic dialogue.
President Nicolás Maduro, speaking in a pre-taped interview aired on state television, emphasized Venezuela’s willingness to discuss drug-trafficking measures while refusing to comment on recent CIA operations.
Venezuela’s Stance on US Negotiations
Maduro reiterated that the United States seeks a government change and access to Venezuelan oil. He said the U.S. has been applying pressure since August with a large military deployment in the Caribbean.
President Nicolás Maduro stated:
> “What are they seeking? It is clear that they seek to impose themselves through threats, intimidation and force,”
President Nicolás Maduro added:
> “It is time for both nations to start talking seriously, with data in hand.”
He also offered U.S. investment in oil, noting Chevron is the only major company exporting Venezuelan crude to the United States.
President Nicolás Maduro said:
> “If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for U.S. investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it.”
US Military Actions and CIA Strike
The interview was taped on New Year’s Eve, the same day the U.S. military announced strikes against five alleged drug-smuggling boats. The attacks bring the total number of known boat strikes to 35 and the number of people killed to at least 115, according to the Trump administration. Venezuelans are among the victims.
President Donald Trump justified the strikes as a necessary escalation to stem drug flow into the United States and asserted that the U.S. is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. The strikes began off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast and later expanded to the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The CIA was behind a drone strike last week at a docking area believed to have been used by Venezuelan drug cartels, according to two people familiar with the operation. It was the first known direct operation on Venezuelan soil since the boat strikes began.
President Nicolás Maduro said:
> “I could talk about it in a few days.”
Key Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total boat strikes | 35 |
| Boats targeted this week | 5 |
| Total deaths | ≥115 |
| Venezuelan casualties | among victims |
Key Takeaways
- Maduro signals openness to drug-trafficking talks while refusing to discuss CIA strikes.
- The U.S. has intensified military pressure, conducting 35 boat strikes and a drone strike on Venezuelan soil.
- Venezuela’s oil sector remains a point of potential cooperation with U.S. investors like Chevron.
The comments highlight the tension between aggressive U.S. military actions and a possible diplomatic opening on drug-trafficking issues.
