US President Donald Trump said Monday he is open to speaking with Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro and would not rule out deploying US troops, while also saying he'd be "OK" with launching anti-drug strikes inside Mexico – remarks that heighten tensions amid a major US military buildup in the region.
Issued on: 17/11/2025
By: FRANCE 24
Combo of two archive photographs showing the President of the United States, Donald Trump (left), and the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro. © EFE
President Donald Trump said Monday he will talk to Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro as Washington's military buildup stokes tensions, and added that he would be "OK" with US anti-drug strikes inside Mexico.
Trump has dramatically increased the number of US forces in the Caribbean to tackle what he calls drug traffickers based in a number of Latin American countries including Venezuela and Mexico.
"At a certain period of time, I'll be talking to him," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he would speak to Maduro, while adding that the Venezuelan president "has not been good to the United States".
Asked if he would rule out US troops on the ground in Venezuela, Trump replied: "No I don't rule out that, I don't rule out anything.
"We just have to take care of Venezuela," he added. "They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons."
Venezuela has accused Washington of seeking regime change in Caracas with its military build-up including an aircraft carrier group, warships and several stealth jets.
Washington accuses of Maduro of leading a "terrorist" drug cartel, a charge he denies.
But Trump has also accused Mexico of failing to tackle drug trafficking groups, and stepped up his rhetoric towards the United States's southern neighbour.
"Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It's OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs," Trump said when asked by reporters at the White House whether he would sanction a US counter-drug operation in Mexico.
"I didn't say I'm doing it, but I'd be proud to do it. Because we're going to save millions of lives by doing it."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
President Donald Trump said Monday he will talk to Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro as Washington's military buildup stokes tensions, and added that he would be "OK" with US anti-drug strikes inside Mexico.
Trump has dramatically increased the number of US forces in the Caribbean to tackle what he calls drug traffickers based in a number of Latin American countries including Venezuela and Mexico.
"At a certain period of time, I'll be talking to him," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked if he would speak to Maduro, while adding that the Venezuelan president "has not been good to the United States".
Asked if he would rule out US troops on the ground in Venezuela, Trump replied: "No I don't rule out that, I don't rule out anything.
"We just have to take care of Venezuela," he added. "They dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country from prisons."
Venezuela has accused Washington of seeking regime change in Caracas with its military build-up including an aircraft carrier group, warships and several stealth jets.
Washington accuses of Maduro of leading a "terrorist" drug cartel, a charge he denies.
But Trump has also accused Mexico of failing to tackle drug trafficking groups, and stepped up his rhetoric towards the United States's southern neighbour.
"Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs? It's OK with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs," Trump said when asked by reporters at the White House whether he would sanction a US counter-drug operation in Mexico.
"I didn't say I'm doing it, but I'd be proud to do it. Because we're going to save millions of lives by doing it."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
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