(USA, 23rd) Venezuelan President Maduro wrote a letter to US President Trump, urging for dialogue to ease tensions between the two countries. The White House rejected his request, stating that the letter was "full of lies".
According to AFP, the Venezuelan government on Sunday (September 21) published the letter from Maduro to Trump. In the letter, Maduro said that the US accusation that he leads a drug trafficking organization was "purely fictitious," and he urged Trump to uphold peace.
White House press secretary Levitt responded on Monday (22nd) by saying that Maduro's letter was "filled with lies." She stated that the Trump administration’s position on Venezuela had not changed and that it still regards the latter as an illegitimate regime.
The US, citing the fight against Latin American drug trafficking groups, dispatched eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean in August, a scale far exceeding usual deployments. Venezuela fears this could be a prelude to invasion.
The US military has destroyed at least three Venezuelan vessels suspected of trafficking drugs in recent weeks, resulting in more than 10 deaths.
Maduro accused Trump of attempting to interfere in a regime change. Last week, Venezuelan Defense Minister Lopez accused the US of launching an "undeclared war" in the Caribbean and emphasized that personnel on the so-called drug boats were "executed without the right to defense."
Thousands of Venezuelans responded to Maduro’s call and joined militia organizations to strengthen national defense.
However, some Venezuelans welcomed US military actions, hoping this could hasten the collapse of Maduro's regime. Two opposition leaders also supported the US deployment of additional naval forces near Venezuela, saying that this move was crucial for restoring democracy.
According to AFP, the Venezuelan government on Sunday (September 21) published the letter from Maduro to Trump. In the letter, Maduro said that the US accusation that he leads a drug trafficking organization was "purely fictitious," and he urged Trump to uphold peace.
White House press secretary Levitt responded on Monday (22nd) by saying that Maduro's letter was "filled with lies." She stated that the Trump administration’s position on Venezuela had not changed and that it still regards the latter as an illegitimate regime.
The US, citing the fight against Latin American drug trafficking groups, dispatched eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean in August, a scale far exceeding usual deployments. Venezuela fears this could be a prelude to invasion.
The US military has destroyed at least three Venezuelan vessels suspected of trafficking drugs in recent weeks, resulting in more than 10 deaths.
Maduro accused Trump of attempting to interfere in a regime change. Last week, Venezuelan Defense Minister Lopez accused the US of launching an "undeclared war" in the Caribbean and emphasized that personnel on the so-called drug boats were "executed without the right to defense."
Thousands of Venezuelans responded to Maduro’s call and joined militia organizations to strengthen national defense.
However, some Venezuelans welcomed US military actions, hoping this could hasten the collapse of Maduro's regime. Two opposition leaders also supported the US deployment of additional naval forces near Venezuela, saying that this move was crucial for restoring democracy.