Venezuelan chief Nicolas Maduro wrote to US President Donald Trump days after a US strike on an alleged drug boat and supplied to interact in direct talks with particular envoy Richard Grenell.
In his letter, shared on Telegram by Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodriguez and confirmed to NCS by a US supply with data of the matter, Maduro denies being concerned in narco-trafficking – referring to the allegations as “fake news, propagated through various media channels” – and offers to interact in “a direct and frank conversation with your special envoy.”
The letter, signed by Maduro, is dated September 6, 4 days after a US strike killed 11 Venezuelans on a ship the US claims was getting used to transport medicine.
The US carried out extra strikes towards speedboats final week, elevating the full dying toll to greater than a dozen alleged drug traffickers, although the White House has not offered conclusive proof or intelligence information confirming the individuals killed have been criminals.
Trump on Sunday declined to verify he had acquired Maduro’s letter, telling reporters, “We’ll see what happens with Venezuela.”
A consultant for Grenell and a spokesperson for the Venezuelan authorities each declined to touch upon the letter.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro of being one of many world’s largest narco-traffickers and of working with cartels to flood the US with fentanyl-laced cocaine. In August, it doubled its reward for his arrest to $50 million.
Increasing tensions between the 2 nations have seen the US deploy warships to the area on what it says is a mission to fight drug trafficking, however Maduro has claimed it’s an effort at regime change.
Venezuela has responded by launching navy workouts and placing on show its Russian-built fighter jets in a present of drive. It additionally claims to have mobilized thousands and thousands of militiamen.
In his letter, Maduro says he’s sending the US what he refers to as “compelling data on drug production and drug trafficking … that demonstrates that Venezuela is a territory free of drug production.”
“I respectfully invite you, President, to promote peace through constructive dialogue and mutual understanding throughout the hemisphere,” Maduro says within the letter.
Grenell, a former US ambassador to Germany, has met with Maduro a number of instances this yr to safe the discharge of US residents wrongfully detained in Venezuela in trade for tons of of Venezuelan migrants the White House had beforehand despatched to El Salvador.
On Tuesday, Grenell brazenly referred to as for a de-escalation within the confrontation saying he believed the US and Venezuela “can still have a deal” to keep away from struggle.