Frictions involving Venezuela Escalate In the Wake of Alleged Demand from President Trump to Maduro.
It is alleged that ex-President Donald Trump delivered a direct demand to Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro: leave office – and depart the country – at once.
According to reports, the American president supposedly held a telephone conversation with his Venezuelan opposite number, who is the focus of a months-long pressure campaign that has featured a major naval deployment off Venezuela's Caribbean coast.
"You can save yourself and your inner circle, but you need to leave the nation now," Trump allegedly stated, promising assured transit for Maduro, his spouse and his son "only if he agreed to step down right away."
Nevertheless, the Venezuelan president reportedly declined to relinquish power right then and is said to have made a series of counter-demands, including international amnesty and being allowed to give up political control while maintaining command of the military.
New Increase in Long-Running Two-Nation Strain
This exchange marks the latest escalation of strains between the Washington and Caracas. On Monday, Trump allegedly met with his leading foreign policy team to deliberate on the Venezuela issue, though specifics of that meeting were not revealed.
Central Points from the Alleged Exchange
- Demand: Immediate departure from power and departure from the country for Maduro and his closest relatives.
- Alleged Refusal: Maduro reportedly rejected the offer for a rapid exit.
- Conditions: Sought global amnesty and continued authority over the military.
- Wider Situation: This occurs amid a larger American pressure campaign aimed at removing the Venezuelan regime.
When questioned about the call, Trump reportedly saying, "I can't say it went well or badly, it was a telephone conversation." Not one of the American nor Venezuelan administrations have offered additional information about the matters discussed during the extraordinary exchange, which is thought to have taken place in late November.
