THE NEW YORK TIMES: The move paves the way for a possible military escalation against drug traffickers or the government of Nicolás Maduro.
President Trump has called off efforts to reach a diplomatic agreement with Venezuela, according to U.S. officials, paving the way for a potential military escalation against drug traffickers or the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Richard Grenell, a special presidential envoy and executive director of the Kennedy Center, had been leading negotiations with Mr. Maduro and other top Venezuelan officials. But during a meeting with senior military leaders on Thursday, Mr. Trump called Mr. Grenell and instructed him that all diplomatic outreach, including his talks with Mr. Maduro, was to stop, the officials said on Monday.
Mr. Trump has grown frustrated with Mr. Maduro’s failure to accede to American demands to give up power voluntarily and the continued insistence by Venezuelan officials that they have no part in drug trafficking.
American officials have said that the Trump administration has drawn up multiple military plans for an escalation. Those operations could also include plans designed to force Mr. Maduro from power. Marco Rubio, the secretary of state and national security adviser, has called Mr. Maduro an “illegitimate” leader and repeatedly cited a U.S. indictment of him on drug trafficking charges. » | Julian E. Barnes, Tyler Pager and Maria Abi-Habib | Julian Barnes and Tyler Pager reported from Washington, and Maria Abi-Habib from Mexico City. | Monday, October 6, 2025
En español:
Trump suspende la estrategia diplomática con Venezuela: La medida allana el camino para una posible escalada militar contra los narcotraficantes o el gobierno de Nicolás Maduro. »
