Overview

• Caracas published a Sept. 6 letter in which Nicolás Maduro proposes reopening a direct channel through U.S. envoy Richard Grenell and frames it as a way to reduce misinformation.
• In the letter, Maduro rejects U.S. narcotrafficking accusations, citing claims that only 5% of Colombian drugs transit Venezuela and that authorities neutralized about 70% of those shipments.
• Asked about the letter, President Donald Trump declined to confirm receipt and said only, “We’ll see what happens with Venezuela,” after warning of a high price if Caracas refuses to readmit deportees.
• U.S. forces have sunk at least four fast boats in Caribbean operations since August, with Washington linking them to drug trafficking as questions persist over publicly presented evidence.
• Dominican authorities reported a U.S. airstrike on a drug‑running boat south of Isla Beata and a major cocaine seizure, while Venezuela continues militia drills and military displays as talks remain uncertain and internal U.S. policy divisions are reported.