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The call between Donald Trump and Nicolás Maduro on November 21, after three months of ongoing conflicts in the Caribbean, marked a definitive turning point in the strained relations between the United States and Venezuela.
During this conversation, Trump made his ultimatum clear: Maduro must resign immediately or face military consequences. Maduro showed that he is willing to do anything but lose power. He bluffs and dances, celebrating a false show of strength that he doesn’t possess. This is his deception strategy, hoping that Trump will retreat with his battalions, planes, and aircraft carriers, tail between his legs.
However, within this context, it seems that the U.S. will decide to attack the land-based narcotraffic networks tied to the Venezuelan regime, particularly the Cartel de los Soles, which has recently been classified as a terrorist organization.
The list of demands from the Venezuelan dictator on behalf of the Cartel de los Soles was nothing short of outrageous. He wanted his Vice-President, Delcy Rodríguez, to lead the transition to maintain the grip of the rogue state before elections, with the same CNE, TSJ, and AN. Maduro insisted that the transition should involve Delcy Rodríguez, not the elected president Edmundo González Urrutia, until new elections, where he would be guaranteed a candidacy and eventual return to power.
He also demanded total amnesty and respect for human rights for himself and his family, ignoring that U.S. justice considers him a fugitive, with a reward of 50 million dollars for conspiracy, for flooding the United States with drugs, as well as other related crimes like money laundering and corruption.
Maduro emphasized the lifting of financial sanctions on his own assets and bank accounts, as well as those of his close family, and around 100 military members of the Cartel de los Soles. He wanted to dismiss the legal proceedings from the International Criminal Court, where there are two advanced cases concerning approximately 9,000 instances of human rights violations and crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela, including over 10,000 murders.
The Venezuelan dictator wanted to maintain control of the FANB to secure his comeback, ensuring his life and that of his allies in any complicit country willing to host him, like Turkey, Russia, or Iran.
Among the unprecedented details, news agency Reuters revealed that Maduro demanded during the call with the U.S. president and the leader of the narcotrafficking clan holding Venezuela hostage, to cancel sanctions against at least another 100 members of the regime, including military and police officials investigated for undermining democracy and committing human rights violations.
Citing sources from the White House, Reuters noted that the call lasted less than 15 minutes and did not end well.
According to Reuters, Trump categorically rejected all the demands, maintaining a single option: Maduro’s immediate exit within one week, offering only a safe conduct pass to preserve his life and that of his family, namely his wife and son, in exile.
This deadline expired on November 28, after which Trump intensified measures against the Venezuelan regime.
Trump’s refusal to accept such terms highlighted the deep differences between the two, as while the U.S. president seeks a definitive solution for the regime, Maduro tried to cling to power with promises that failed to convince Washington. His public demeanor, with quirks like the known “weird dances,” clearly portrayed disdain towards the threats and mocking messages against any peaceful change proposed by the U.S.
After the collapse of the conversation, Trump opted to escalate threats, announcing possible ground military operations in Venezuela. The deployment of naval assets, including aircraft carriers and expeditionary units, as well as the closure of Venezuelan airspace, raised fears of direct conflict.
The situation, however, is complicated. Venezuela is not isolated in this conflict. Russia, Iran, and China have been constant allies of the regime, adding a layer of complexity to the geopolitical scenario. Although the likelihood of a military response from these powers is remote, it cannot be dismissed. Moreover, the vast expanse of Venezuelan territory and the presence of multiple armed actors inside, such as the FARC Dissidents and the ELN, make any military operation a difficult and costly mission.
Maduro’s proposal for a global amnesty was a clear attempt to secure an exit for himself and his inner circle without losing total control of the country. Nevertheless, Trump’s rejection of this offer underscores the irreconcilable differences between the two.
The U.S. president demands a complete surrender of the regime, allowing no room for negotiations that would let Maduro’s allies retain their power. This approach, unlike the Cuban model of regime change in Nicaragua, leaves no room for key chavismo actors to survive.
The situation, while unpredictable, is far from resolution, and what remains clear is that the crisis in Venezuela is now a major piece in the geopolitical chess game not only in the Caribbean but also worldwide.
What happens in Venezuela in the coming days could mark the beginning of the end for a regime that has devastated the country’s democracy. However, it could also trigger a new phase of confrontation and political reconfiguration in the region. The battle for Venezuela is a struggle between powers that will change the course of politics in Latin America.
@damasojimenez