President Donald Trump said on Sunday that the United States may open talks with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, marking a potential shift as tensions rise and Washington expands its military presence in the Caribbean.
Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach that Maduro “would like to talk,” but offered no further details. Washington has long accused the Venezuelan leader of links to drug trafficking, allegations Maduro rejects.
The remarks follow three senior-level meetings at the White House last week to review possible military options against Venezuela, including limited land strikes, according to officials familiar with the discussions. Trump said on Friday that he had “sort of made up” his mind on the issue, indicating that a decision could come soon. Caracas did not immediately comment.
Earlier on Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States would designate Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organisation.
U.S. officials accuse the group of working with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to transport narcotics into the United States and allege that Maduro oversees the network, a claim he denies. Asked whether the designation could allow the United States to target Maduro’s assets, Trump said it “allows us to do that,” while stressing that no decision had been taken.
The Pentagon confirmed on Sunday that the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford and its strike group had moved into the Caribbean, joining eight warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft already deployed.
Human rights organisations, including Amnesty International, have condemned recent U.S. boat strikes targeting suspected drug traffickers as extrajudicial killings. Some U.S. allies have also raised concerns about the operations’ legality.
The White House argues that the United States is engaged in an armed conflict with drug cartels and says military personnel involved in the strikes are protected under a Justice Department legal opinion.
Venezuela has accused Washington of violating international law and says it is preparing its defences.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on Friday found that only 35% of respondents support the use of U.S. military force inside Venezuela without the government's approval.
Trump’s comments came as the Pentagon announced another strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing three people described as “narco-terrorists.” It was the twenty-first such operation since early September, bringing the total reported deaths to more than eighty.
Thailand launched air strikes along its disputed border with Cambodia on Monday after fresh fighting erupted between the two neighbours, only months a...
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says recent talks with U.S. representatives on a possible peace plan were “constructive, although not easy...
In 2013, just a month after becoming president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared that the days of mutinous soldiers undermining government authority in...
Polling closed on Sunday (7 December) in Hong Kong’s overhauled “patriots-only” legislative election, with vote counting now underway....
Thailand launched air strikes along its disputed border with Cambodia on Monday after fresh fighting erupted between the two neighbours, only months after a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. Both sides accused the other of breaching the agreement.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says recent talks with U.S. representatives on a possible peace plan were “constructive, although not easy,” as he prepares for new consultations with European leaders in coming days.
In 2013, just a month after becoming president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared that the days of mutinous soldiers undermining government authority in the capital, Bamako, were over. Yet, seven years later, Keita himself was toppled, facing the very fate he had vowed to prevent.
A coup attempt by “a small group of soldiers” has been foiled, Beninese Interior Minister Alassane Seidou said on Sunday on national television, urging citizens to continue their daily activities.
A delayed local vote in the rural Honduran town of San Antonio de Flores has become a pivotal moment in the country’s tightest presidential contest, with both campaigns watching its results as counting stretches into a second week.
FIFA releases the 2026 World Cup schedule with match dates, venues, and key fixtures. See when host nations USA, Mexico, and Canada play and get an overview of group stage and knockout rounds.
Lava fountains shot from Hawaii’s Kīlauea volcano from dawn to dusk on Saturday, with new footage showing intensifying activity at the north vent.
McLaren’s Lando Norris became Formula One world champion for the first time in Abu Dhabi, edging Max Verstappen to the title by just two points after a tense season finale.
Thailand launched air strikes along its disputed border with Cambodia on Monday after fresh fighting erupted between the two neighbours, only months after a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump. Both sides accused the other of breaching the agreement.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says recent talks with U.S. representatives on a possible peace plan were “constructive, although not easy,” as he prepares for new consultations with European leaders in coming days.
In 2013, just a month after becoming president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita declared that the days of mutinous soldiers undermining government authority in the capital, Bamako, were over. Yet, seven years later, Keita himself was toppled, facing the very fate he had vowed to prevent.
Polling closed on Sunday (7 December) in Hong Kong’s overhauled “patriots-only” legislative election, with vote counting now underway.
Greetings from Tripoli — a city that stands at the heart of Africa’s energy landscape and today hosts one of the continent’s key regional gatherings: the Libya–Africa International Gas Forum 2025.
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