Trump planning a call with Maduro, according to Axios

"A call between Donald Trump and Nicolas Maduro? The prospect is on the table, despite the heightened tensions between the United States and Venezuela. The Republican has informed his team of his plans to speak directly with the Venezuelan leader, according to the news website Axios. The report came on the same day that Washington officially designated Maduro as the head of a foreign terrorist organization, amid escalating tensions in the Caribbean."

"So far, there is no firm date set for the conversation, according to the same sources. Trump's idea may suggest that, despite the U.S. deployment of military power in the Caribbean, for now no direct U.S. action on Venezuelan territory is planned or at least it would be delayed. There have been fears of a U.S. military intervention in Venezuela since the first warships began arriving in the area."

"The U.S. operation, dubbed Operation Southern Spear, has sunk at least 21 vessels since September 2, killing at least 83 people in strikes that experts, lawmakers, and human rights advocates consider extrajudicial killings and illegal acts. The news of Trump's possible phone call with Maduro came after the U.S. president designated the so-called Cartel of the Suns a foreign terrorist organization a move that came into effect on Monday."

Donald Trump has informed his team that he plans to speak directly with Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro, with no firm date set. Washington designated Maduro and the Cartel of the Suns as a foreign terrorist organization, enabling potential new military actions near Venezuelan territory. The U.S. has deployed warships to the Caribbean and initiated Operation Southern Spear, which has sunk at least 21 vessels since September 2 and reportedly killed at least 83 people, actions criticized as extrajudicial killings. U.S. officials say no operation to capture or kill Maduro is planned now; the stated immediate goal is to stop drug trafficking.

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