Trump Considers Maduro Talks as Aircraft Carrier Near Venezuela/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump said the U.S. may engage in discussions with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro as a major military buildup continues near Venezuela. The USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier has arrived in the region, reinforcing a counterdrug operation that has drawn global scrutiny. Trump did not confirm talks but left the door open while maintaining military pressure.
Trump Signals Possible Talks with Maduro as U.S. Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Caribbean – Quick Look
- Trump Opens Door to Talks: President Trump said the U.S. “may be having some discussions” with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro amid heightened military activity near Venezuela.
- USS Gerald R. Ford Deployed: The Navy’s most advanced aircraft carrier and accompanying warships arrived in the region as part of Operation Southern Spear.
- Counterdrug Mission or Pressure Tactic?: While framed as an anti-narcotics effort, the deployment is widely viewed as a show of force against Maduro’s regime.
- Deadly Strikes Continue: At least 83 people have been killed in U.S. maritime strikes since September, targeting boats allegedly smuggling drugs.
- Venezuela Reacts: Maduro’s government has condemned U.S. exercises as aggression and warned of “massive” mobilization in response.
- Terrorist Designation Coming: The U.S. plans to designate Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization.
- Regional Exercises: U.S. troops are also conducting joint military training in Trinidad and Tobago and Panama to counter narcotics and violent crime.
Trump Suggests Possible Talks with Venezuela’s Maduro Amid Major U.S. Military Buildup: Deep Look
WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday signaled the possibility of diplomatic engagement with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, just as the United States deployed its most advanced aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Caribbean as part of an expanding counterdrug operation.
While Trump did not offer details, he said “Venezuela would like to talk,” adding, “I’ll talk to anybody. We’ll see what happens.” His remarks come as tensions escalate and military activity in the region reaches its highest levels in years.
The Navy confirmed the Ford’s arrival along with nearly a dozen warships and around 12,000 personnel as part of “Operation Southern Spear.” The deployment follows a series of U.S. strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats, which have killed at least 83 people in 21 attacks since September.
The most recent strike occurred Saturday in the eastern Pacific, where the U.S. blew up a small vessel said to be carrying narcotics. The video, released Sunday by U.S. Southern Command, showed the boat being destroyed and three people reportedly killed.
The Ford strike group, with its fighter jets and guided-missile destroyers, transited the Anegada Passage near the British Virgin Islands on Sunday morning.
Rear Adm. Paul Lanzilotta said the mission aims to disrupt narco-terrorist networks and defend U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere. Adm. Alvin Holsey, who oversees U.S. military efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean, described the operation as a necessary show of force.
“We stand ready to combat the transnational threats that seek to destabilize our region,” Holsey stated.
Regional Training and Diplomatic Undercurrents
In parallel with the carrier deployment, U.S. troops have begun joint training exercises in Trinidad and Tobago and Panama, signaling a broader military engagement across Latin America.
Trinidadian officials, whose nation sits just seven miles from Venezuela, said the drills are focused on combatting drug-related violence and improving regional security. The exercises involve Marines from the 22nd Expeditionary Unit, who have been stationed aboard U.S. Navy ships off Venezuela’s coast for months.
Panama, too, has seen increased military coordination, with Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announcing the reactivation of a U.S. jungle training school there. Driscoll emphasized that the U.S. is ready to act on whatever President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth require.
Despite these claims, the U.S. government has not provided detailed evidence that the destroyed vessels were connected to drug cartels or terrorism. Trump has continued to describe the strikes as part of an “armed conflict” with drug trafficking networks.
Political Messaging and Strategy
Asked on Friday if he had made a final decision on future actions toward Venezuela, Trump said, “I sort of have made up my mind,” offering no additional context.
Military analysts say that deploying a carrier group like the USS Ford is an unmistakable form of pressure. While not ideally suited for cartel interdiction, the ship’s capabilities send a clear warning to Maduro’s government.
Venezuela has responded with what it called a “massive mobilization” of troops and civilians to prepare for a potential U.S. invasion. Officials from Maduro’s ruling socialist party also attended public rallies this weekend to promote government policies and bolster grassroots political engagement.
U.S. Designates Venezuelan Drug Cartel as Terrorist Group
In a parallel development, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the impending designation of Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. The group, allegedly led by Maduro and other high-ranking officials, is accused of trafficking narcotics and fomenting regional instability.
The designation, effective Nov. 24, will criminalize any material support for the cartel or its members.
Rubio called the Venezuelan government a “transshipment organization” for global drug networks and reaffirmed that the U.S. does not recognize Maduro’s leadership, citing alleged electoral fraud.
Trump has used the cartel designation to justify the deadly strikes on drug boats, asserting that these are military actions against terrorist actors. Still, the lack of transparency about the legal justification and specific targets has raised concerns in Congress and abroad.
Pushback and International Concern
Critics, including United Nations officials and some U.S. lawmakers, have raised alarms about the legality and proportionality of the U.S. boat strikes. Senate Republicans recently voted down legislation that would have required Trump to obtain congressional approval before launching military action against Venezuela.
There remains uncertainty over whether the carrier group’s capabilities might be used for direct strikes on Venezuelan land targets. Some experts warn that any escalation could destabilize the entire region.
Elizabeth Dickinson, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said the situation is being closely watched.
“This is the anchor of what it means to have U.S. military power once again in Latin America,” she said. “Everyone is watching with bated breath to see how far the U.S. is willing to go.”
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