Venezuela Ready for Drug Talks With US Despite Growing Hostilities

Maduro signals openness to dialogue on narcotics, oil, and migration as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has said his government is open to holding talks with the United States on drug trafficking, oil, and migration, even as tensions between both countries continue to escalate.

Speaking on state television on Thursday, Maduro said he was prepared to meet US officials “wherever they want and whenever they want,” stressing that dialogue remains possible despite recent hostile actions.

The Venezuelan leader declined to comment directly on a reported US drone strike on a docking facility in Venezuela, allegedly carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The strike is believed to be part of a broader US campaign targeting vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics through the Caribbean and eastern Pacific routes.

Since September, US forces have reportedly carried out more than 30 operations against suspected drug boats, with over 110 people said to have been killed in the process.

Washington has repeatedly accused Maduro and senior members of his government of involvement in drug trafficking — allegations he strongly denies. Maduro has instead accused the United States of using the anti-drug campaign as a cover to seize Venezuela’s oil resources and destabilise his government.

Experts note that Venezuela largely serves as a transit corridor for drugs produced in other countries, particularly Colombia, the world’s largest cocaine producer.

Maduro also expressed willingness to engage the US on oil and migration issues, as Venezuela continues to face a prolonged economic crisis that has forced millions of citizens to flee since 2013.

In recent weeks, the United States has intensified pressure on Venezuela’s energy sector, seizing two sanctioned oil tankers since early December and pursuing a third.

The Trump administration has framed its actions as part of a non-international armed conflict against drug traffickers, a position that has drawn criticism from legal experts who question its compliance with international law. The US Southern Command, however, maintains that intelligence assessments confirmed the targeted vessels were involved in narcotics trafficking along known smuggling routes.