01.12.2025 13:06
It was claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump had a phone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, with the request that he leave the country with his family. U.S. media reported that Maduro demanded a global amnesty and made requests related to the military.
According to reports in the US press, Donald Trump offered Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a phone call last week to "immediately leave Venezuela to save his life." Trump stated that if this opportunity was not seized immediately, the possibility of an agreement would disappear.
MADURO GAVE A NEGATIVE RESPONSE TO THE OFFER It was reported that Maduro responded negatively to the offer, and Trump's announcement on Friday that "Venezuela's airspace is closed" was said to be related to this conversation.
THE MEETING WAS TENSE According to a report by the New York Times, the phone call that took place two weeks ago was quite tense. This contact occurred just a few days after Trump stated that he was open to talking with Maduro. It was reported that the parties discussed the conditions proposed by Maduro for a possible "surrender agreement." Trump confirmed the phone call in a statement to the US media.
MADURO'S REQUESTS FOR "AMNESTY AND MILITARY CONTROL" WERE REJECTED A source close to the discussions told the Miami Herald that Maduro initially requested a "global amnesty" for himself and his close circle, which was rejected. According to the source, the second request was to maintain control over the Venezuelan armed forces. It was noted that this model aimed to establish a structure similar to that of Violeta Chamorro in Nicaragua in 1991. In return, Maduro's side proposed to allow free elections, but this suggestion was also not accepted by Washington. Fox News reported that Maduro's requests for "amnesty" and "military control," for which the US State Department had placed a $50 million reward, were firmly rejected by Trump.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. WASHINGTON OFFERED A "SAFE EXIT" The US administration proposed to allow Maduro, his wife, and son to leave Venezuela safely; however, it was insisted that Maduro must leave the country immediately in return. US media reported that Maduro considered leaving the country but did not accept the offer due to Washington's pressure for quick action. The Miami Herald wrote that the US had conveyed similar offers to some high-ranking officials in the Venezuelan government. It was stated that the Caracas administration attempted to arrange a second phone call but did not receive a response.
AIRLINE DECISION AND MILITARY TENSION After Maduro rejected the offer, Trump announced that Venezuela's airspace was closed. This step coincided with the deployment of the US's largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford, and an amphibious Marine unit to the region. On Saturday, Trump stated on social media that Venezuela's airspace should be considered "completely closed." This announcement raised questions about whether the US would launch an attack on Venezuela, which has a population of 28 million. During the same days, Trump warned that "military operations in Venezuela could begin very soon."
HARSH RESPONSE FROM CARACAS The Venezuelan government condemned the US decision as a form of "colonial aggression." The Caracas administration claimed that Washington was applying military pressure to gain control over the country's vast oil resources.
TRUMP: MADURO HAS FEW OPTIONS On Sunday, while answering reporters' questions on Air Force One, Trump stated that the decision to close the airspace should not be seen as a sign of an impending attack. Trump expressed that Maduro now has very few options, saying, "His army is very weak. You can't chase after 30 people scattered everywhere at the same time, but if we were to do so, Maduro would definitely be at the top of the list."