by Reuters
Summary
– Maduro offers direct talks with envoy in letter to Trump
– Maduro denies Venezuela has major role in drug trafficking
– US military buildup in Caribbean raises tensions
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro offered to engage in direct talks with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump days after the first U.S. strike on a boat from the South American country that Trump says was carrying drug traffickers.
– Maduro denies Venezuela has major role in drug trafficking
In a letter to Trump that was viewed by Reuters on Saturday and published by Venezuela on Sunday, Maduro rejected U.S. claims that Venezuela played a big role in drug trafficking, noting that just 5% of drugs produced in Colombia are shipped through Venezuela – of which he said 70% were neutralized and destroyed by Venezuelan authorities.
“President, I hope that together we can defeat the falsehoods that have sullied our relationship, which must be historic and peaceful,” Maduro wrote in the letter. “These and other issues will always be open for a direct and frank conversation with your special envoy (Richard Grenell) to overcome media noise and fake news.”
He noted that Grenell had helped quickly resolve earlier allegations that Venezuela was…
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