Frictions with Venezuela Rise In the Wake of Alleged Demand from Donald Trump to Maduro.
It is alleged that ex-President Donald Trump issued a unambiguous message to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro: relinquish power – and depart the nation – without delay.
Per accounts, the American president supposedly held a phone call with his Venezuelan counterpart, who is the focus of a prolonged pressure campaign that has featured a significant naval deployment off Venezuela's Caribbean coast.
"You have the chance to protect yourself and your family, but you must exit the nation now," the U.S. president allegedly said, offering safe passage for Maduro, his wife and his son "only if he consented to resign immediately."
Nonetheless, the Venezuelan president allegedly refused to relinquish power right then and is said to have made a set of conditions, including international legal immunity and being allowed to give up political control while keeping command of the armed forces.
Recent Ratchet-Up in Long-Running Bilateral Tensions
This development marks the latest escalation of strains between the two countries. Recently, Trump reportedly held talks with his top foreign policy team to deliberate on the Venezuelan situation, though specifics of that discussion have not been revealed.
Salient Details from the Alleged Conversation
- Final Offer: Immediate resignation and departure from the country for Maduro and his closest relatives.
- Alleged Refusal: Maduro supposedly turned down the offer for a swift exit.
- Counter-Demands: Sought protection from prosecution worldwide and continued authority over the army.
- Broader Context: This occurs within a wider U.S.-led pressure campaign designed to ousting the Venezuelan government.
When questioned about the conversation, Trump was quoted as remarking, "I can't say it went well or poorly, it was a telephone conversation." Not one of the U.S. nor Venezuelan governments have released additional particulars about the topics talked about during the highly unusual exchange, which is believed to have happened in the latter part of November.
