Donald Trump confirms conversation with Venezuela’s Maduro amid speculation US attack is imminent

US President Donald Trump says he’s spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but didn’t provide details about what was discussed.

“I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes,” Mr Trump said when asked by reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.

The New York Times first reported that Mr Trump had spoken with Mr Maduro earlier this month and discussed a possible meeting between them in the US.

The revelation of the phone call comes as Mr Trump continues to use bellicose rhetoric regarding Venezuela, while also entertaining the possibility of diplomacy.

On Saturday, Mr Trump said the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered “closed in its entirety” but gave no further details, stirring anxiety and confusion in Caracas as his Administration ramps up pressure on Mr Maduro’s Government.

When asked whether his airspace comments meant that strikes against Venezuela were imminent, Mr Trump said: “Don’t read anything into it”.

The Trump Administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as Mr Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans.

The socialist Venezuelan President has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.

Reuters has reported the options under US consideration include an attempt to overthrow Mr Maduro, and that the US military is poised for a new phase of operations after a massive military buildup in the Caribbean and nearly three months of strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela’s coast.

Mr Trump also has authorised covert CIA operations in the country.

Mr Trump told military service members last week that the US would “very soon” begin land operations to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers.

Meanwhile, Mr Maduro has accused the US of seeking to gain control of his country’s oil reserves with its increased military presence in the Caribbean.

In a letter to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries on Sunday, Mr Maduro said Washington wanted to “seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the largest on the planet, through lethal military force”.

This threat endangers “regional and international peace, security and stability,” and poses risks to Venezuelan production and the international oil market, he said.

The US has massed additional troops in the Caribbean and redeployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R Ford, from the Mediterranean to the region, accompanied by other warships and a long-range bomber.

According to the US Government, the mission is aimed at combating drug smugglers.

US officials say more than 80 people have already been killed in strikes on alleged drug boats.

Mr Maduro said the US has assembled 15,000 troops and 14 warships in the Caribbean, a troop figure that matches US media reports.

Amid rising tensions there has been speculation that an attack on targets in Venezuela could be imminent, alongside questions over whether the US government might be seeking a change of power in Caracas.

OPEC has 12 members, including Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.

with dpa