In the midst of a US military expansion that has sparked fears of war, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro confirmed speaking with US President Donald Trump via phone late last month.
Maduro told the state-run television station on Wednesday that he had arranged for a “microphone diplomacy” when he called Trump and that he had a conversation about it about ten days ago.
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In a statement referring to the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, under whom he was foreign minister, Maduro said, “During my six years as foreign minister, I learned diplomatic prudence, and then, in these years as president, I value prudence.
“I don’t like diplomacy with microphones; when sensitive issues arise, they must be handled quietly until they are resolved”!
Maduro claimed that he was encouraged by the suggestion that the call would lead to “respectful dialogue” and that his nation would always seek peace.
Maduro said he would not discuss further with Trump because he supported “prudence” and “respect.”
According to him, “With the blessing of God and Our Lord Jesus Christ, everything will work out well for Venezuela’s peace, independence, dignity, and future.”
Trump said he had spoken with the Venezuelan leader by phone in the midst of the most severe diplomatic dispute between Washington and Caracas in a long time, and Maduro made these remarks on Sunday.
Trump and Maduro spoke once more about their conversation on Wednesday, but they didn’t go into specifics.
Trump said at a press conference at the White House, “I spoke to him briefly, just told him a few things, and we’ll see what happens with that.”
Venezuela sends us people they shouldn’t be sending, but Venezuela does so with drugs.
As part of an escalating pressure campaign against Maduro, Trump has deployed the largest aircraft carrier in the world to the Caribbean, blown up alleged drug-smuggling vessels, threatened to launch strikes on Venezuelan soil, and threatened to do so in the name of a global conspiracy.
The Trump administration has used its military campaign to combat drug trafficking.
Venezuela accounts for only a small portion of the world’s cocaine supply, but it provided 10 to 13 percent of the projected cocaine production in 2020, according to a US government estimate.
Maduro claims that Trump fabricated allegations that he intended to overthrow his government and seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Maduro said his country wished for peace, but only with the words “sovereignty, equality, and freedom” attached, in a defiant address to a rally in Caracas on Monday.
Source: Aljazeera
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