Kathmandu — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has expressed readiness to engage in dialogue with the United States, but only if Washington abandons what he described as decades-long interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs.
Speaking in a televised address on Friday, President Maduro said Venezuela would welcome talks with the U.S. if they are based on mutual respect and a clear commitment to non-intervention. He stressed that any dialogue must mark a departure from what he termed failed U.S. policies toward his country over the past 25 years.
“If the United States is prepared to engage in dialogue with Venezuela on the basis of mutual respect and give up its attempts to interfere, we are ready to seek a path toward peace, cooperation and shared prosperity,” Maduro said.
Criticism of U.S. policies and media narrative
Maduro sharply criticized Washington for what he described as sustained smear campaigns against the Venezuelan government, efforts to destabilize the country, and repeated attempts to overthrow its leadership. He also accused U.S. media outlets of misrepresenting the situation in Venezuela.
Calling on American journalists to report responsibly, Maduro urged them to understand the realities on the ground before shaping public opinion about Venezuela.
Military deployments raise concerns
The Venezuelan president also condemned recent U.S. military activity in the region. He said the United States has, in recent months, deployed large-scale air and naval forces in Caribbean waters near Venezuela under the pretext of combating “narco-terrorism.”
According to Maduro, U.S. operations have resulted in the sinking of around 30 vessels labeled as drug trafficking ships in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, leading to more than 100 deaths. He described these actions as aggressive and destabilizing for the region.
Maduro’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions between Caracas and Washington, even as regional and international actors continue to call for diplomatic engagement to ease longstanding political and economic strains.
