Trump says Maduro 'doesn't want to f*ck around with US' - Video
Former U.S. President Donald Trump made striking comments about Venezuela on Friday, October 17 suggesting that President Nicolás Maduro has been making overtures to avoid confrontation with Washington.
Speaking after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington, Trump was asked whether he had authorised CIA operations in Venezuela. “Well, I wouldn’t say that, but some interesting things are happening around the world. I’ll say that,” he responded.
Pressed further by reporters who noted that Maduro had recently offered to mediate with the United States and pledged access to Venezuela’s natural resources, Trump said: “He’s offered everything. You’re right. You know why? Because he doesn’t want to mess around with the United States.”
The comments follow remarks earlier this week in which Trump appeared to hint that U.S. intelligence operations were underway in the South American nation.
Washington has long accused Caracas of facilitating drug trafficking, while Venezuelan officials allege that the United States is seeking to destabilise the government and seize the country’s vast oil reserves.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
