As soon as Nicholas Maduro, newly sworn in President of Venezuela, saw what had happened, he reached out to Venezuelan born U.S. President Donald Trump. This unfortunate outreach was announced only days after U.S. military strike killed 11 Venezuelans on a boat supposedly carrying cocaine. The episode has further stoked tensions between the two countries. Maduro is now ready to move forward with direct negotiations with U.S. special envoy Richard Grenell.
The U.S. military alleges that the boat was attempting to haul drugs — a crime Maduro angrily insists on denying. In his letter of September 6, Maduro denounced U.S. actions as the fruit of an elaborate regime change strategy in Venezuela. He composed this just four days after the strike had begun. He accused the Trump administration of perpetuating “fake news, propagated through various media channels,” intended to undermine his government.
To protect against these supposed threats from the U.S., Maduro has recruited millions of militiamen. He alleges that this military American warship deployment to the region is part of an effort to destabilize his administration. He worries that today’s geopolitical tensions may lead to war if the international community does not respond with a commitment to diplomatic engagement.
“I respectfully invite you, President, to promote peace through constructive dialogue and mutual understanding throughout the hemisphere.” – Nicolas Maduro
Richard Grenell, acting director of the Office of National Intelligence (ONI), in remarks last week urged de-escalation in the U.S.-Venezuelan standoff. He expressed optimism that both nations could avoid military conflict, stating, “I believe that we can still have a deal.”
To date, though, President Trump has not publicly confirmed receipt of Maduro’s letter. The White House’s non-response has left unclear what kind of diplomatic overture the two leaders might undertake.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro addresses members of Venezuela’s National Assembly in Caracas on August 22. He once again and very strongly doubled down against any external aggression, especially ISIS. His appeal to President Trump is admirable in that it seeks to build bridges in a time of many increasing tensions.
