Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has publicly stated his willingness to engage in direct talks with the United States, even as military and diplomatic pressures between the two nations intensify.

“I am ready to sit down and talk with the government of the United States, wherever they want and whenever they want,” Maduro declared during a televised interview on Venezuelan state TV on Thursday, specifically naming drug trafficking, oil, and migration as key topics for discussion.

The overture comes against a backdrop of escalating U.S. actions. Over the past three months, U.S. forces have conducted over 30 strikes on vessels allegedly involved in narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, a campaign U.S. officials say has resulted in more than 110 deaths. The latest incident occurred Wednesday, with the U.S. military reporting five killed in a strike on two suspected drug boats.

Tensions spiked earlier this week following reports by major U.S. media that a CIA drone strike had targeted a “dock area” inside Venezuela linked to alleged drug-smuggling. If confirmed, it would mark the first known U.S. military operation on Venezuelan territory. When asked about the alleged attack, Maduro neither confirmed nor denied it, stating only, “This could be something we talk about in a few days.”

The U.S. campaign is part of President Donald Trump’s renewed “war on drugs,” which has heavily focused on intercepting fentanyl and cocaine. However, the legality of the strikes has been questioned by international legal experts, who argue they may violate international law. The U.S. has stated the operations target vessels on known trafficking routes but has not publicly provided evidence that the specific boats struck were carrying narcotics.

Beyond narcotics, the two countries are clashing on other fronts. The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Venezuela’s crucial oil sector, recently seizing tankers accused of transporting sanctioned Venezuelan and Iranian oil—actions Caracas has condemned as “international piracy.” Additionally, Trump has doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro’s capture and announced plans to designate his government a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

Maduro has vehemently rejected all accusations, denying any government ties to drug cartels and asserting that Washington is using the drug war as a pretext to orchestrate a coup and seize control of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves. He also dismissed Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that he forced inmates and asylum patients to migrate to the U.S.

The migration issue remains acute, with nearly eight million Venezuelans estimated to have fled the country since 2013 due to economic collapse and political turmoil. Counternarcotics experts also note that while Venezuela is a transit zone, the world’s largest cocaine supply originates in neighboring Colombia, with most believed to reach the U.S. via routes not involving Venezuela.

Despite the confrontational rhetoric and military posturing, Maduro’s latest comments suggest Caracas may be probing for a diplomatic off-ramp as pressures mount on multiple fronts. Whether Washington will entertain such talks remains uncertain, setting the stage for a critical juncture in a long-standing and volatile geopolitical standoff. (ILKHA)