Overview
- Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello called it a lie that Nicolás Maduro proposed stepping down after a two‑ to three‑year transition, rejecting The New York Times’ account of back‑channel talks.
- The New York Times reported that the White House declined a proposal to delay Maduro’s exit and that President Trump approved CIA contingency planning, claims Venezuela’s leadership disputes.
- Colombia’s Foreign Ministry said comments by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio suggesting conditional support for a transitional plan were taken out of context, even as Bloomberg released audio defending its interview.
- Vice President Delcy Rodríguez accused the United States of trying to turn Venezuela into its 51st state, pointing to expanded U.S. naval and air deployments in the Caribbean that Washington casts as anti‑narcotics operations.
- Trump said discussions with Maduro could occur and Maduro expressed willingness to talk face to face, while rights groups criticized U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats that news reports say have left about 80 people dead.