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Donald Trump gave Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a shock ultimatum to flee his country during their long-awaited phone call, according to a report, as tensions between the pair threatened to escalate into all-out conflict.
The US president was unusually concerned about the call over the weekend, doing nothing to ease concerns possibility of war between one Massive build-up of American warships and troops in the Caribbean.
When the US President was asked on Sunday whether he had spoken to Maduro, he said, “I don’t want to comment on that. The answer is yes.” “I wouldn’t say whether it was good or bad. It was a phone call.”
Sources familiar with the exchange gave this information miami herald Talks soon reached an impasse as Trump reportedly demanded Maduro and his top aides leave Venezuela. Trump is said to have told Maduro and his family that they could be assured of safe passage out of the country if he agreed to resign immediately.
Independent The White House was contacted for comment on the report.
The US has sent about 15,000 troops and more than a dozen warships to the region over the past few months as part of what Trump has framed as a war against drug cartels. Maduro has accused Washington of trying to force regime change.
This threat has become more apparent in the past few days, as Trump warned that ground operations could happen “very soon”, and Pilots should avoid Venezuelan airspace,
Will the US attack Venezuela?
Trump last week warned “airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human smugglers” that they should close airspace around Venezuela amid fears that Washington was preparing air strikes.
The US President later told reporters not to “read anything into it”, adding that he had issued the threat “because we do not consider Venezuela a very friendly country.”
The US is not legally able to close Venezuelan airspace. But it could aggravate Caracas by encouraging airlines to stay away, creating a deep sense of insecurity at home. Venezuela described the comments as a “colonialist threat” against its sovereignty.
Last week, Trump threatened to escalate action against Venezuela by taking action on the ground.
“You may have noticed that people don’t want to deliver [drugs] Through sea, and we will start stopping them through land also. The land is easy, but it is going to start very soon.”
Why has America sent a naval fleet to the coast of Venezuela?
The US has mobilized warships and troops in the region in the past few months under “Operation Southern Spear”.
This includes the 337-meter USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier, capable of carrying approximately 4,600 personnel and 90 aircraft. It also includes guided missile destroyers, amphibious assault ships and oil tankers for refueling ships.
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth says the purpose of Southern Spear is to remove narco-traffickers from the Western Hemisphere.
In the last three months, more than 80 people have been killed in attacks on suspicious ships. The Trump administration has not provided evidence that the boats were carrying drugs.
Maduro says the show of force in the region is part of an effort to oust him from power.
Dr. Christopher Sabatini, Senior Fellow for Latin America at the Chatham House think tank, said BBC In October the administration was aiming for a show of force in an effort to oust Maduro.
“This is about regime change,” he said, adding that it was unlikely the US would invade.
How has Maduro responded?
Maduro initially sent about 15,000 troops to the border with Colombia in August to fight drug trafficking. But the US has continued to amass troops in the region regardless.
Venezuela has had to maintain a careful balance between pushing for dialogue and standing firm against perceived aggression.
Last week, Maduro appeared at a rally carrying the sword of independence leader Simon Bolivar and promised to stand up against imperialism.
He said, “I swear by this sky, I swear before our Lord Jesus Christ that I will give everything I have for the victory of Venezuela against the threats and aggression of imperialism.”
But he has also continued to call for reducing tensions. Last month, Maduro sang John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ during a rally in Miranda, and at one point spoke directly to a US audience in English to call for peace and urge against war.
In a worst-case scenario, Venezuela is believed to be preparing to launch a guerrilla-style resistance or unleash chaos, according to sources and planning documents. Resistance may include small military units carrying out sabotage and other guerrilla tactics.
Historic tension between America and Venezuela
Trump has long blamed Venezuela for the drug epidemic in his country and claimed that Caracas is pouring narcotics into the US through illegal channels. Venezuela denies the allegations, stating that the vast majority of cocaine produced in Colombia is shipped through the Pacific.
maduro is widely considered a dictator and is not recognized by the US as the legitimate leader of Venezuela. He was sworn in for a third six-year term in January, and says he was the legitimate winner of last year’s presidential election.
The opposition said there was credible evidence that its candidate had won the vote, as it urged the US and other countries to put pressure on Maduro to oust him.
The Trump administration earlier this year announced a $50 million reward for Maduro’s arrest, accusing him of being one of the world’s biggest drug traffickers and working with cartels to flood the U.S. with fentanyl-laced cocaine. Maduro has denied any ties to the drug trade.