President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday he had spoken with Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro, but did not provide details on what the two leaders discussed.
"I don't want to comment on it: The answer is yes," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked if he had spoken with Maduro.
Trump is reportedly is siding with engaging the dictator diplomatically rather than strike him or his regime.
In a surprising diplomatic turn that came the same day the U.S. formally designated Maduro as the head of a terrorist organization, Trump will pursue diplomacy, administration officials told Axios.
The planned call marks a significant shift in Trump's approach to Venezuela, signaling that missile strikes or a ground operation are not imminent, officials said.
"Nobody is planning to go in and shoot him or snatch him — at this point," one official told Axios, though they stressed all options remain open.
The administration continues to intensify its pressure campaign. The U.S. has launched 21 missile strikes under Operation Southern Spear, targeting boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking, and killing at least 83 people.
While officially branded as a drug-interdiction mission, officials acknowledge the operation doubles as a bid to destabilize Maduro's regime.
The State Department on Monday labeled an alleged Venezuelan drug cartel as a Foreign Terrorist Organization, further expanding Trump's legal latitude for military action.
The Pentagon's lead architect of Southern Spear, Gen. Dan Caine, visited Puerto Rico the same day, where roughly 10,000 U.S. personnel are positioned.
No date has been set for a Trump-Maduro call, which remains in the "planning stages."
Officials expect Maduro to offer promises of future elections and oil concessions — pledges they say he has repeatedly broken. One adviser said the president "always leads" by calling Maduro a narcoterrorist.
Venezuela's strategic alliances with Cuba, Iran, China, and Russia continue to complicate U.S. efforts, and officials believe Cuban security services might threaten Maduro's life if he attempts to step down.
Maduro was indicted by the U.S. in 2020 for allegedly leading the "Cartel of the Suns," which he denies.
Despite criticism that hard-line policy is driven by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, officials insist the hawkish posture begins with Trump himself — with Rubio and top military leaders shaping an operation to maximize his options.
One characterized Trump's shifting posture this way: "There's more talk about talking and less talk about bombing."
Reuters contributed to this report.
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