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Maduro Offers Dialogue with US if Washington Ends "Interference" in Venezuela

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has stated he is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States, but only if Washington abandons what he calls 25 years of interference in Venezuela's affairs. His offer comes amid a tightening U.S. economic and naval blockade aimed at crippling Venezuela's oil exports, which a U.S. official predicts could cause an "economic calamity" by late January. The U.S. has designated Maduro's government a foreign terrorist organization and is intercepting tankers, actions Venezuela condemns as "piracy." Following an emergency UN Security Council meeting, the majority of members called for adherence to the UN Charter and de-escalation of the crisis.

Key Points: Maduro Open to US Talks if Interference Stops

  • Dialogue offer with conditions
  • Criticism of US "smear campaigns"
  • US oil blockade intensifies
  • UN calls for restraint
3 min read

Venezuelan president Maduro expresses willingness to hold dialogue with US

Venezuela's president offers dialogue with the US based on mutual respect, criticizing sanctions and military pressure as he faces economic blockade.

"If the US side is willing to engage in dialogue... on the basis of mutual respect... I will welcome it. - President Nicolás Maduro"

Caracas, Dec 27

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has expressed willingness to hold dialogue with the United States on the basis of mutual respect, provided that the United States gives up interference in Venezuela.

In a televised speech on Friday (local time), Maduro said that if the US side is willing to engage in dialogue with Venezuela on the basis of mutual respect and abandon its failed attempts to interfere in Venezuela over the past 25 years, he will welcome it and seek a path toward peace, cooperation and prosperity.

The president also criticised the United States for its sustained smear campaigns against the Venezuelan government, its destabilising efforts in Venezuela, and its attempts to overthrow the leadership, reports Xinhua news agency.

He called on the US media to report the real situation of Venezuela after truly understanding the country.

For months, the United States has deployed large-scale air and naval forces in Caribbean waters near Venezuela under the guise of combating so-called "narco-terrorism."

It has sunk about 30 so-called "drug trafficking ships" in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific, causing more than 100 deaths.

Earlier this week, the White House ordered the US military to focus almost exclusively on enforcing a "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil for at least the next two months.

"While military options still exist, the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to reach the outcome the White House is looking," a US official said.

"The efforts so far have put tremendous pressure on (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro, and the belief is that by late January Venezuela will be facing an economic calamity unless it agrees to make significant concessions to the US," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Bella I, the third oil tanker pursued by US forces, has turned away from its route to Venezuela to load cargo and retreated into the Atlantic Ocean, according to US media reports.

US President Donald Trump ordered a "full and total blockade" of all sanctioned tankers entering or leaving Venezuela last week, announcing Maduro's government as a US-designated foreign terrorist organisation.

Venezuela has repeatedly accused Washington of seeking regime change and military expansion in Latin America, condemning the interception of oil tankers as "piracy."

Asked if the goal was to force Maduro from power, Trump told reporters on Monday that it would be "smart" for Maduro to step down. "If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough," he added.

The UN Security Council on Tuesday held an emergency meeting on the situation in Venezuela, at which the overwhelming majority of Security Council members called for respect for the UN Charter and restraint to avoid further escalation.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting to see this from an Indian perspective. Our foreign policy has always been about strategic autonomy and non-interference. Venezuela's situation is complex, but dialogue is always better than sanctions that hurt ordinary people the most. Hope peace prevails.
R
Rohit P
The US calling another government a "terrorist organisation" while sinking ships and causing 100+ deaths? The hypocrisy is staggering. Where is the UN in all this? The Security Council meeting sounds like too little, too late. The world needs a multipolar order to check such actions.
P
Priyanka N
While I don't support any foreign interference, let's not pretend Maduro's government is blameless. Venezuela's economy was in shambles long before these latest sanctions. His offer for dialogue seems like a tactical move from a position of weakness. The people are the ones suffering in this power game. 😔
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Michael C
The language used by Trump – "it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough" – is incredibly provocative and unbecoming of a world leader. This isn't how diplomacy works. It's just creating more instability in Latin America, which has global consequences.
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Kavya N
As an Indian, this reminds me of the pressure we sometimes face on various issues. The principle is simple: respect sovereignty. The US media should indeed report the real situation, not just the official Washington line. The "narco-terrorism" excuse for a naval blockade sounds very thin.

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