Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Thursday that his government is open to cooperation with the United States on issues including drug trafficking, oil, and regional security, signaling a willingness to engage diplomatically despite escalating military pressure from Washington in recent weeks. The comments come amid heightened tensions following claims by US President Donald Trump that American forces carried out a land strike on a Venezuelan dock allegedly linked to narcotics operations.
Speaking during an interview broadcast on Venezuelan state television, Maduro said dialogue with US authorities could take place without preconditions and at any location or time chosen by Washington. He emphasized that Venezuela remains prepared to discuss areas of mutual concern, including the fight against drug trafficking, even as relations between the two governments remain strained.
Maduro, however, declined to directly address Trump’s announcement earlier this week that the United States had launched a strike against a dock in Venezuela purportedly connected to drug-smuggling boats. When asked to confirm or deny the reported operation, the Venezuelan leader said the matter could be addressed at a later date, suggesting that official clarification may come in the coming days. The government has so far neither acknowledged nor rejected the claim, leaving uncertainty over whether the strike occurred.
Trump stated that the United States had targeted the dock as part of its broader anti-narcotics campaign in the region but provided few details. He did not specify the location of the dock, the timing of the operation, or which branch of the US government carried it out. When questioned about the possible involvement of the CIA, Trump declined to elaborate, stating only that he knew which agency was responsible but did not wish to disclose it. He added that multiple boats and what he described as an “implementation area” had been hit, implying the destruction of infrastructure used in drug operations.
If confirmed, the reported strike would mark a significant escalation, potentially representing the first land-based operation linked to the current US military campaign targeting drug trafficking routes from Latin America. Since September, US forces have repeatedly targeted vessels that Washington alleges are involved in narcotics smuggling across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. US officials have said more than 20 boats have been struck during these operations, with at least 100 people killed.
The growing American military presence and operations near Venezuelan waters have added to already tense relations between Washington and Caracas. While the United States frames its actions as part of an effort to disrupt maritime drug routes, Venezuela has frequently accused Washington of using anti-narcotics efforts as a pretext for political and military pressure.
Maduro’s comments suggesting openness to cooperation appear aimed at lowering tensions while asserting Venezuela’s willingness to engage on specific issues of shared concern. Whether such dialogue will materialize remains unclear, particularly as questions persist over the alleged strike and the broader scope of US operations in the region.
