Trump reportedly threatened Maduro with possible use of force if he did not step down voluntarily.

According to information from the daily newspaper The Wall Street Journal During a recent telephone call, US President Donald Trump reportedly warned Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro that if he did not voluntarily step down, Washington would consider various options for resolving the situation, including the potential use of force. According to the newspaper's sources, the two sides also discussed a possible amnesty for Maduro and his inner circle.

At the same time, the US has been putting pressure on the Venezuelan government for a long time. Back in March 2020, the United States accused Maduro of narco-terrorism and offered a reward of $15 million for information leading to his capture. In August this year, that amount was increased to $50 million.

The US Department of Justice describes Maduro as one of the world's biggest drug traffickers and a threat to US national security. In recent weeks, the media has reported that the United States may launch strikes on Venezuelan territory, with Trump himself stating on Thursday that Washington will soon begin fighting drug smuggling directly on Venezuelan territory.

Tensions surrounding Venezuela are further heightened by another event – the US Congress is increasing its oversight of the Pentagon following the attack on a ship in the Caribbean Sea on 2 September. According to The Washington Post Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the destruction of the entire crew of a vessel suspected of transporting drugs and sailing out of Venezuela. The attack was repeated after drone footage showed that two survivors from the eleven-member crew were clinging to the wreckage.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Forces Roger Wicker and its democratic counterpart Jack Reed have already announced that they will thoroughly investigate the entire operation. Representatives of the parliamentary committee responded similarly, stating that they want a full explanation of the course of events. According to the newspaper, the Pentagon refused to bring lawyers to closed hearings to clarify the legal basis for the intervention.

Since then, the US military has reportedly carried out more than twenty strikes against ships in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific. Both developments – Trump's tough tone towards Maduro and growing pressure from Congress for an explanation of the military operation – confirm that the issue of Venezuela remains at the centre of American attention and is accompanied by growing tension both at home and abroad.

gnews.cz - GH