A US pressure campaign on Venezuela has prompted “elements within the Cuban regime” to approach the United States about what the region would look like without President Nicolas Maduro leading Venezuela, two sources familiar with the matter said on Friday.
The sources, who requested anonymity to describe confidential information, declined to specifically identify the Cuban party that contacted the United States.
A source familiar with the matter said: “Elements within the Cuban regime have contacted the United States.” “There were discussions between the two about what the world would look like without the Maduro regime.”
A second source confirmed these communications. Neither source provided further details.
Cuba issued a statement on November 25 in which it accused the United States of seeking to overthrow the Venezuelan government through violence, and described the US military buildup in the region as an “aggressive and exaggerated” threat.
The dramatic escalation of US firepower in the Latin American region includes the aircraft carrier Gerald Ford, as well as eight warships, a nuclear submarine, and F-35 aircraft.
In the statement, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said that it would be extremely dangerous and irresponsible for the United States to overthrow the Maduro government, in addition to being a violation of international law and the UN Charter.
President Donald Trump recently spoke with Maduro, but he refused to say what they talked about.
Reuters reported on Monday, citing four sources familiar with the call, that Maduro told Trump he was willing to leave Venezuela if he and his family were granted full legal amnesty, including the lifting of US sanctions and an end to a landmark case at the International Criminal Court.
The call came after months of US pressure on Venezuela, including attacks on suspected drug smuggling boats, threats of military action and the designation of the Cartel de los Solis as a foreign terrorist group.