Diplomatic Strains with Venezuela Escalate In the Wake of Reported Ultimatum from President Trump to Maduro.
Sources indicate that formerPresident Trump issued a unambiguous message to Venezuelan leader Maduro: relinquish the presidency – and exit the country – without delay.
Per accounts, the U.S. leader supposedly held a telephone conversation with his South American opposite number, who is the target of a sustained pressure campaign that has featured a major naval deployment off Venezuela's Caribbean coast.
"You have the chance to protect yourself and those closest to you, but you have to depart from the nation immediately," the U.S. president reportedly stated, providing assured transit for Maduro, his wife and his son "only if he agreed to resign right away."
However, the Venezuelan leader allegedly declined to resign on the spot and reportedly presented a series of conditions, including global legal immunity and the right to cede political control while retaining control of the armed forces.
Recent Increase in Long-Running Bilateral Tensions
This incident represents the most recent heightening of frictions between the Washington and Caracas. On Monday, Trump allegedly met with his senior foreign policy team to discuss the Venezuela crisis, though details of that gathering were not revealed.
Salient Elements from the Alleged Conversation
- Demand: Immediate resignation and departure from the country for Maduro and his closest relatives.
- Reported Rejection: Maduro did not accept the offer for a swift exit.
- Counter-Demands: Sought protection from prosecution worldwide and continued authority over the armed forces.
- Broader Context: This occurs within a larger U.S.-led pressure campaign aimed at ousting the Venezuelan government.
Upon being asked about the conversation, Trump reportedly saying, "I can't say it went well or poorly, it was a telephone conversation." Neither the American nor Venezuelan administrations have offered further particulars about the matters discussed during the highly unusual dialogue, which reportedly happened in the latter part of November.
