Trump, Maduro held phone call last week amid US military buildup: NYT

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The New York Times
28 Nov 2025 23:46

US President Trump spoke with his Venezuelan counterpart amid rising military tensions in a rare call that may signal a shift in the US-Venezuela strategy.

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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro brandishes a sword said to have belonged to independence hero Simon Bolivar during a civic-military event at the military academy in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, November 25, 2025 (AP)

US President Donald Trump spoke by phone last week with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, discussing a possible meeting, multiple sources familiar with the matter told The New York Times.

The conversation took place amid a major US military buildup near Venezuela and increasing pressure from Washington, including sanctions and terrorism designations.

Two individuals confirmed the call occurred late last week and included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussion reportedly involved the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders in the United States, though no plans have been finalized.

Call precedes US 'terrorism designation' for Maduro

The phone call came just days before the US officially designated Maduro as the leader of the Cartel de los Soles, a group Washington labels a "foreign terrorist organization." The designation reflects the Trump administration’s claims that Venezuelan military officers have long been involved in drug trafficking operations, charges Venezuela has consistently denied.

Washington has maintained a strong military posture in the Caribbean, publicly justifying the deployment as a counter-narcotics operation.

However, US officials have also signaled the intent to remove Maduro from office, potentially through the use of force.

Neither the White House nor the Venezuelan government has officially commented on the phone call. However, two individuals close to the Maduro government confirmed to the New York Times that the call occurred, speaking anonymously as they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly.

Trump’s dual-track strategy: threats and dialogue

Trump has a history of using parallel strategies in dealing with adversaries, combining diplomatic outreach with threats of military action. While the administration continues to threaten Maduro’s government, it also appears to be exploring backchannel talks.

Over the past year, the Trump administration has conducted missile strikes on Venezuelan vessels it claims were involved in drug trafficking. On Thursday, Trump announced the next phase of operations would include land-based missions, stating, “The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon,” during remarks at Mar-a-Lago.

No confirmation on the nature of the vessels in the Caribbean Sea has been made public.

The US has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group near Venezuela, flown bomber aircraft over the region, and developed covert action plans targeting the Maduro government. These actions followed the 2024 Venezuelan election, which the US government rejected as fraudulent.

Despite intensifying pressure, the Trump administration may be using direct talks to create a possible off-ramp to avoid military escalation, though officials continue to insist that any resolution must involve Maduro’s departure from power.