WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that he recently held a phone call with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, though he refused to divulge details about the conversation.
“I don’t want to get into it. The answer is yes,” Trump said aboard Air Force One. “I wouldn’t say it went good or bad — it was a phone call.”
According to The New York Times, the two leaders spoke earlier this month, and even discussed the possibility of Maduro visiting the United States.
The revelation comes at a moment when Trump is simultaneously escalating his confrontational rhetoric toward Venezuela while keeping a narrow diplomatic channel open.
Airspace Warning Fuels Tension
On Saturday, Trump declared that the airspace “over and around Venezuela” should be considered completely closed, a remark that sent shockwaves through Caracas. The Venezuelan government has been under heightened U.S. pressure for weeks.
When asked whether his comment signaled that U.S. military attacks were imminent, Trump responded:
“Read nothing into it.”
U.S. Military Preparing for New Phase in the Caribbean
U.S. officials say the Trump administration is weighing several options to intensify pressure on Venezuela, including scenarios aimed at removing Maduro from power. After nearly three months of American strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels off the Venezuelan coast, sources indicate that U.S. forces are preparing for a new operational phase in the Caribbean.
Human rights groups have condemned the maritime attacks as extrajudicial killings, while some U.S. allies have raised concerns about potential violations of international law.
Trump also said Sunday that he would examine reports that the U.S. military conducted a second September strike to kill survivors of an intercepted vessel — something he insisted was not his intention. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, however, maintains that the operations were lawful and “intended to be lethal.”
Last week, Trump told U.S. troops that the United States would begin ground operations “very soon” against what Washington describes as Venezuelan narcotics networks.
Venezuela Silent on Call; Parliament Orders Inquiry Into U.S. Strikes
Venezuelan officials have not publicly commented on the phone call. During a Sunday press conference, National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez declined to answer questions about the conversation, but announced a parliamentary inquiry into the deadly U.S. attacks on boats in the Caribbean.
Regional Implications
The escalating stand-off between Washington and Caracas is closely monitored across the Caribbean — including Curaçao, which lies near Venezuelan territory and hosts strategic U.S. operations. The uncertainty surrounding potential U.S. military actions continues to raise concerns about regional stability and the safety of air and maritime routes.
The geopolitical pressure cooker shows no signs of cooling, despite Trump’s cryptic assurances that his latest remarks should not be overinterpreted.