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.
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged Georgia to implement reforms to tackle youth unemployment. Nearly 30 per cent of people aged 15-24 are without a job in the country, according to World Bank data.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to publish the UK government's long-awaited Defence Investment Plan ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara, following growing pressure over the UK's military spending commitments.
Hundreds of protesters have torn down fences surrounding a planned luxury development site in Albania, as public anger continues to mount over construction in environmentally sensitive areas.
George Russell continued Mercedes's dominant qualifying form by securing pole position for the Barcelona-Catalunya Grand Prix, while Lewis Hamilton ensured an all British front row with second place for Ferrari.
Pakistan has warned that any attempt by India to block or significantly reduce river flows under the Indus Waters Treaty could have “far-reaching consequences”, after India's water minister said New Delhi was working to ensure that “not a single drop” of water reaches Pakistan in the coming years.
SpaceX made a historic entrance into the Nasdaq on Friday, surging over 20% in its first day of trading and lifting its valuation to more than $2 trillion. Investors flocked to the world’s largest IPO, betting on Elon Musk’s sprawling empire spanning rockets, AI and beyond.
Armenia has every right to choose Europe. But Europe’s support for Armenia’s direction should not become automatic approval of its political process.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said a peace agreement with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday in a post on social media, despite Tehran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei saying no deal would be approved this weekend.
Japan’s birth rate and fertility levels have fallen to their lowest levels on record, highlighting the country’s worsening demographic crisis as fewer people marry and have children.
In the runup to the G7 summit, hosted by France in Évian-les-Bains on Monday, 15 June, China has addressed global economic balances in a videoconference hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. It is a rarity for Beijing to engage directly with the group.
Romania's centrist President Nicușor Dan on Sunday designated Adrian Veștea, a member of the liberal party, as prime minister, after independent candidate Eugen Tomac withdrew.
North Korea said on Sunday, 14 June, that denuclearisation is a matter that is irreversibly terminated, in a condemnation of recent nuclear deterrence talks between the U.S. and South Korea.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to publish the UK government's long-awaited Defence Investment Plan ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara, following growing pressure over the UK's military spending commitments.
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer says British armed forces intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker early on Sunday, as it attempted to pass through the English Channel.
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