Maduro Offers U.S. Talks on Oil, Migration and Anti-Drug Cooperation

Overview

• In a state TV interview on January 1, Nicolás Maduro said Venezuela is ready for “serious” negotiations covering petroleum investment, deportation flights and counter-narcotics cooperation.
• Maduro declined to confirm or deny a reported U.S. strike on Venezuelan territory, saying the matter could be discussed in coming days and asserting that national territorial integrity is secure.
• President Donald Trump said on December 29 that U.S. forces destroyed a Venezuelan port area used by drug-running vessels, though the location and independent verification remain unclear.
• Brazil has intensified monitoring of its northern border and sought information through diplomatic channels, citing concerns that any escalation could trigger humanitarian and security spillovers.
• Hours before the interview, Venezuela announced the release of 88 detainees from 2024 protest arrests, as U.S. maritime pressure continued with recent operations reported to have left eight people dead.