Trump spoke with Maduro by phone last week and they discussed the possibility of holding a direct meeting in the United States

the american president, Donald TrumpHe spoke by phone with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas MaduroLast week, to agree on a possible meeting between the two in the United States, the newspaper reported on Friday New York Times Quoting anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

The call included the US Secretary of State, marco rubio, The report issued by the New York newspaper, which did not share further details about what was discussed between the two leaders, added that it did not result in concrete plans for the meeting.

The conversation came “a few days ago” last Monday, November 24, when the US State Department classified a group it calls the “Sun Cartel” as a terrorist group and linked to the governor of Venezuela, whose government responded that this was an “invention” on the part of Washington, the article adds.

Neither the United States government nor the government of Venezuela have issued public statements about the alleged call between the two leaders, although they have not denied that it occurred.

News of the conversation spread hours after Trump announced that the armed forces “will very soon begin arresting” “Venezuelan drug traffickers” on land after their operations at sea, where USA More than 20 boats were bombed More than 80 people were killed Under the pretext of combating drug smuggling.

Trump announced in a phone call with the army on the occasion of Thanksgiving: “We will start stopping them by land. It is also easier by land, but that will start very soon. We have warned them to stop sending poison into our country.”

Despite this warning, Trump indicated on Tuesday that he “can talk to save many lives” with Maduro, a conversation that would be “welcomed” in Venezuela, according to Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab.

The announcement of the discussions with Maduro follows reports in the US press in October about alleged negotiations sought by the Venezuelan government with the Trump administration.

he Miami Herald It was reported last October that Venezuelan Vice President, Delcy Rodriguez, proposed to the United States to head a transitional government without Maduro, while New York Times He pointed out that Caracas offered Washington to open its oil and gold to American companies and redirect its fuel exports from China to North America.

These reports come amid growing tension between Venezuela and the United States, which since November 16 has deployed its largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, to the Caribbean and on Monday carried out attack demonstrations with its B-52H bomber aircraft.