The president of the United States, Donald J. Trump, had a telephone conversation last week with the Venezuelan president, Nicolás Maduro, as revealed this Friday The New York Times. The call, which represents a gesture of rapprochement at the height of hostilities between both countries, included the possibility of a future meeting between the two leaders on US territory, an idea that would mark a notable change in the relationship between Washington and Caracas. The appointment, according to one of the North American newspaper’s sources, has not been finalized. Sources familiar with the conversation have told EL PAÍS that the call took place under “correct” terms and that it may be a first step to continue the dialogue in a context of “high tension.”
The contact occurs at a time of maximum political and military hostility. The United States has reinforced its presence in the Caribbean, while Venezuela denounces movements that it interprets as a direct threat against its president, Nicolás Maduro. The sources consulted by The New York Times They also agree that The conversation opens the door to a diplomatic channel that contrasts with the accusations of drug trafficking against Maduro and his military leadership or the constant veiled threat of a possible action in Venezuelan territory.
In addition to Donald J. Trump as representative of the United States and Nicolás Maduro on behalf of Venezuela, the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, the main supporter of the pressure strategy on the Venezuelan regime, also participated in the call.
Donald Trump has been leaving open the possibility of that call for weeks. Last Tuesday he dropped it again. “If we can save lives, if we can do things the right way, that’s fine. And if we have to do it the hard way, that would be fine too,” he said. According to what the Republican said that day, the respective teams were already in contact with the intention of reaching that direct conversation between the two leaders.
The strategy of the tenant of the White House is, on the one hand, to escalate the pressure and raise the tone of the threats, and, on the other, to half-open a door to dialogue with Nicolás Maduro. Build a bridge to avoid the conflict that could cause in Venezuela with less diplomatic actions.
Beyond the “correct” tone, the details of the conversation have not emerged, but Trump maintains that push-pull strategy. The Republican announced this Thursday that his government plans “very soon” to arrest drug traffickers linked to Venezuela “by land”, after his campaign of maritime attacks in which more than 80 people have died aboard twenty alleged drug boats. “On land it’s easier,” he said. “We have warned them: Stop sending poison to our country,” he added, in reference to drug trafficking for which he blames the Chavista regime.
The president of the United States considers his attacks in the Caribbean and the Pacific a success, but US authorities have not provided any evidence that the targets were involved in drug trafficking. The bombings have been described by experts in international law and by the UN itself as extrajudicial executions. But the attacks do seem to have a deterrent effect, whether from drug traffickers or fishermen who have stopped going out fishing in terror. “You’ve probably noticed that people don’t want to carry [drogas] by sea, so we will also begin to detain them by land,” Trump explained in the virtual meeting with the US military, in which he participated from his Mar-a-Lago mansion, in Palm Beach (Florida), where he traveled to spend the long Thanksgiving weekend.
That ambiguous announcement — it is not clear how the United States would carry out that threat — once again showed the tension and uncertainty that has been marking relations between Caracas and Washington in recent months. The hostility, which is reaching unprecedented levels, comes growing up since Maduro remained in power despite doubts about the legitimacy of his reelection after the elections in July last year.
Trump maintains his commitment to a growing military presence in the Caribbean with thousands of soldiers, dozens of aircraft and the deployment of his largest aircraft carrier. The military mobilization officially responds to the fight against drug trafficking, but, according to analysts and the magnate’s own entourage, it has become clear that the final objective is to remove Maduro from power.
It won’t be an easy task. Chavismo has responded by deploying its military and training the civilian population to defend itself against any attack. The message from Maduro and his circle is one of unity and resistance to “imperialism.” For the moment, furthermore, there is no evidence of fissures between the military leadership and the regime, one of the objectives that Trump’s strategy would be seeking. “We are obliged to be united! It is forbidden to fail in this decisive juncture for the existence of the Republic,” challenged the Chavista leader this Tuesday in a march that brought together thousands of supporters. There are no excuses for anyone, be it civilian, be it politician, be it police… If the country demands, the country will have our lives if necessary!”, he emphasized.
