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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Thursday his government was open to negotiating a deal with the United States after months of pressure by the US military against drug trafficking networks tied to his government.
In a pre-recorded interview with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet that aired on state television, Maduro said Venezuela was “ready” to discuss a drug-trafficking agreement with the U.S. He called on countries to “start talking seriously, with data in hand.”
“The US government knows, because we have told many spokesmen that if they want to discuss the agreement against drug trafficking in detail, we are ready,” he said. “If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for US investment, like Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it.”
Chevron Corp. it is the only major US oil company currently exporting Venezuelan oil to the United States.
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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro looks on during a meeting at the National Assembly in Caracas, August 22, 2025. (Juan Barreto/AFP via Getty Images)
Maduro said the US is seeking regime change in Venezuela and access to oil reserves through a months-long campaign that began with a major military deployment to the Caribbean Sea. in August.
He said it is clear that the US wants to “responsibly through threats, intimidation and coercion.”
The interview was recorded on New Year’s Eve, the same day the US military announced a strike that killed five people aboard two ships operated by terrorist organizations involved in the drug trade.
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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro joined a rally in Caracas on Dec. 10. (AP Photo/Cristian Hernandez)
At least 114 people have been killed since the US began bombing suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific in early September.
The US may be signaling a possible escalation of its campaign focused on Venezuela, including possible ground operations.
President Donald Trump confirmed that the strike last week targeted what he described as a Venezuelan port used for drug trafficking, but declined to say whether the operation was carried out by the US military or another agency, such as the CIA.
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Maduro declined to comment on the strike during the interview, but said he “can talk about it in a few days.”
In recent weeks, Trump has stepped up pressure on Maduro, ordering a complete embargo on oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, designating his regime a foreign terrorist organization, and accusing it of using stolen US assets to fund terrorism, drug trafficking and other crimes.
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US authorities have also seized two vessels carrying licensed oil.
Fox News Digital’s Greg Wehner, Morgan Phillips, Jasmine Baehr and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
