Maduro sends letter to Trump seeking 'direct and frank' talks amid military tensions

The move comes amid escalating tensions following the U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean.

In the letter, dated September 6 and later published by Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro urged Trump to overcome “fake news” damaging bilateral relations, describing them as an obstacle to building a “historic and peaceful” relationship envisioned by Simón Bolívar. The Venezuelan leader also dismissed U.S. accusations of links between his government and drug trafficking, insisting Venezuela is a “territory free of drug production” and not a significant player in narcotics smuggling.

Maduro praised Grenell as a trusted channel of communication, pointing to past cooperation on migrant repatriation issues. However, Trump, when asked by reporters whether he had received the letter, gave a brief and ambiguous response: “We’ll see what happens with Venezuela”. The U.S. president has recently warned Caracas of “a high price” if it fails to accept deported Venezuelans.

The exchange unfolds as Venezuela’s armed forces conduct nationwide drills, train civilians in weapons handling, and expand border operations in response to the U.S. naval deployment. While Washington says its presence targets drug trafficking, Caracas views the show of force as a threat aimed at regime change. The standoff has further strained ties, with Trump denying any formal plan to oust Maduro even as his administration doubles down on military pressure and sanctions.