Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro confirmed that he spoke with US President Donald Trump about ten days ago, in light of tensions between the two countries and the possibility of Washington launching military action.
“I can say that the conversation was respectful and friendly,” Maduro told his country’s state television, adding: “If this conversation means taking steps towards a respectful dialogue between our two countries, then dialogue and diplomacy are welcome.”
Earlier, Trump confirmed earlier this week that he spoke with Maduro following reports of their phone call, but he refused to divulge details of what they discussed.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that the American deployment in the Caribbean region has been putting the country “to the test” for 22 weeks, adding that he rejects the “peace of slaves.”
22 weeks of psychological terror
He also added: “We have lived through 22 weeks of aggression that can be described as psychological terrorism, 22 weeks during which they put us to the test. The people of Venezuela have shown their love for the homeland,” according to Agence France-Presse.
Maduro continued during a rally attended by thousands of his supporters in Caracas: “We want peace, but we want peace with sovereignty, equality and freedom! We do not want the peace of slaves, nor the peace of colonialism.”
Tensions between America and Venezuela
It is noteworthy that Washington says that it is fighting drug gangs, and to this end it has deployed military forces in the Caribbean region since last August, including the largest aircraft carrier in the world.
Trump also admitted, on Sunday, that he spoke by phone with Maduro, who, the head of the White House, accuses his country of being behind drug smuggling into the United States, something Caracas denies, considering that Washington seeks to change the regime in Venezuela and control the country’s oil reserves.
