Maduro says Venezuela is willing to discuss drug trafficking with the US, avoids comment on alleged American strike

“The Daily Baku” reports that speaking in a pre-recorded interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet, Maduro repeated his long-held view that Washington is attempting to overthrow Venezuela’s government in order to gain access to the country’s vast oil resources. He said the pressure campaign, which he traced back to a large US military deployment to the Caribbean in August, was driven by intimidation and force.

“What are they trying to achieve? It’s clear they want to impose their will through threats and coercion,” Maduro said, adding that the time had come for both countries to “sit down and talk seriously, based on facts.”

The Trump administration has accused Maduro of leading a drug trafficking network and claims it is intensifying efforts to curb narcotics smuggling — allegations Maduro has repeatedly rejected.

According to Maduro, Venezuelan officials have made it clear to US representatives that Caracas is open to a genuine agreement to fight drug trafficking. He added that Venezuela is also open to US investment in its oil sector, pointing to Chevron as an example, and said such cooperation could happen at any time and under mutually agreed terms.

Chevron remains the only major oil company exporting Venezuelan crude to the United States, despite Venezuela holding the largest proven oil reserves in the world.

During the interview, Maduro refused to confirm whether the United States had carried out an attack inside Venezuela, following Trump’s claim on Monday that US forces struck a docking site allegedly used by drug trafficking boats. When pressed on the issue, Maduro said it was something that could be discussed at a later date.

US media outlets, including the Associated Press, have reported that the CIA was responsible for the strike, which was allegedly carried out using a drone. If verified, it would represent the first known US strike on Venezuelan land and a significant escalation of a campaign that has included naval deployments, airstrikes on suspected traffickers, the seizure of oil tankers, and efforts to block sanctioned shipments.

Maduro said he has not spoken with Trump since a phone call on 12 November, which he described as respectful and cordial, though he noted that relations had deteriorated since then.

The interview was recorded on New Year’s Eve, the same day the US military announced strikes on five boats accused of drug smuggling. According to figures released by the Trump administration, the total number of boat strikes has now reached 35, with at least 115 people killed, including Venezuelan nationals.

Trump has defended the operations as a necessary escalation to stop drugs from entering the United States, arguing that the country is engaged in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels. The strikes initially took place off Venezuela’s Caribbean coast before expanding into the eastern Pacific.