Venezuela’s authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro has offered Donald Trump preferential access to the country’s natural resources, including oil and gold, in exchange for easing tensions in the Caribbean. However, he refused, ending all diplomatic outreach with the US.
Maduro proposed opening up existing and future oil and gold projects to American companies and giving them preferential contracts. He also suggested reversing oil exports from China to the US and slashing energy and mining contracts with Chinese, Iranian, and Russian companies.
The offer was made despite Trump’s troops being deployed in the region, with over 10,000 personnel present. The US has been conducting drills and seizing vessels carrying drugs that were intended for the US market.
Venezuela responded by activating its “Independence Plan 200,” a series of drills aimed at protecting strategic assets. President Maduro stated that these drills involve 27 tasks to ensure the protection of key areas, including La Guaira and Carabobo’s Integral Defense Zone.
Despite tensions remaining high, there is still hope for de-escalation, as Trump has shown willingness to change his stance in other conflicts. Qatar is attempting to mediate between Venezuela and the US, but Trump administration officials have dismissed this initiative, opting instead for military pressure.
Source: https://www.latintimes.com