Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro confirmed on Wednesday that he engaged in a "respectful and cordial" telephone conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump approximately 10 days prior, portraying the exchange as a tentative step toward normalized bilateral relations. The disclosure, made during a televised address in Caracas, comes amid escalating U.S. military and diplomatic actions against Maduro's government, including naval deployments in the Caribbean and sanctions targeting alleged drug-trafficking networks linked to Venezuelan officials.

The call, which occurred on November 21, lasted less than 15 minutes and involved U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussion. Maduro reportedly sought comprehensive legal amnesty for himself and over 100 associates, the lifting of economic sanctions, and the termination of an International Criminal Court case accusing him of human rights violations. He further proposed installing Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader pending elections, while retaining control over the armed forces—a condition that highlighted the impasse reached during the brief dialogue.

President Trump, when questioned aboard Air Force One on November 30, acknowledged the interaction but offered minimal details, stating, "I wouldn't say it went well or badly; it was a phone call." Reports indicate Trump issued a stark ultimatum, granting Maduro one week to depart Venezuela with his family under U.S.-guaranteed safe passage, failing which further measures—including potential land-based operations—would follow. This demand aligned with Washington's broader campaign, which has designated the "Cartel de los Soles" as a foreign terrorist organization and intensified strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels off Venezuela's coast.

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In response to the revelations, Maduro emphasized a commitment to "peace with sovereignty," rejecting what he termed a "slave's peace" imposed by external powers. He affirmed that initial measures were underway to foster respectful dialogue, though no subsequent direct communications have been reported. Venezuelan officials have decried U.S. actions as a pretext for resource exploitation, while experts note the call's failure to bridge core demands may narrow Maduro's exit options further.

The episode underscores the volatile dynamics of U.S.-Venezuela relations under Trump's second term, where overt threats of regime change coexist uneasily with backchannel diplomacy. As military assets remain positioned in the region, observers anticipate heightened scrutiny on whether Maduro's overture signals genuine negotiation or a stalling tactic amid mounting isolation.

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