Maduro Seeks Talks With U.S. on Drugs, Migration and Oil, Keeps Quiet on Alleged Strike

Overview

• In a state TV interview, Nicolás Maduro said Caracas is ready for “serious” negotiations with the United States on counternarcotics, deportation flights and oil investment, citing Chevron by name.
• Maduro declined to confirm or deny President Donald Trump’s claim that U.S. forces hit a Venezuelan embarkation site tied to drug shipments, saying the topic could be addressed in coming days.
• Venezuelan authorities announced the release of 88 people detained after the contested 2024 election protests, though human-rights groups say hundreds of political detainees remain.
• U.S. pressure intensified this week with Treasury sanctions on four companies and four tankers linked to Venezuelan oil trade, alongside ongoing naval operations and seizures of sanctioned vessels.
• Regional leaders sought clarity as Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro pointed to Maracaibo as the strike location, a claim that drew denials from a local chemical firm named in online speculation.