Caracas: Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has extended an invitation for face-to-face talks with the United States through Donald Trump’s envoy Richard Grenell, signaling an unexpected opening amid growing confrontation between the two nations.
In a letter dated September 6 and reviewed by Reuters, Maduro urged the U.S. president to allow what he called “a direct and frank conversation” free of media distortions and political rhetoric. He suggested Grenell as the key channel for such dialogue, citing his past involvement in securing the release of American citizens detained in Venezuela and in coordinating deportation flights of Venezuelan migrants from the U.S. via Honduras.
The Venezuelan leader’s outreach comes in the wake of a U.S. naval strike on a vessel Washington alleged was transporting members of the Tren de Aragua criminal network, which it accuses of drug trafficking. Maduro rejected the accusations as exaggerated, stressing that Venezuela intercepts the majority of narcotics that cross its territory. According to his figures, only 5% of Colombia’s cocaine output passes through Venezuela, and of that amount, nearly 70% is seized or destroyed by Venezuelan security forces.
Tensions have risen sharply since the Trump administration increased its military footprint in the Caribbean. U.S. deployments now include warships, advanced fighter jets such as the F-35, and even a nuclear-powered submarine. Trump has repeatedly warned Caracas of “incalculable” consequences if detained U.S. citizens are not released, intensifying speculation about the possibility of further escalation.
Analysts note that Maduro’s proposal may reflect an effort to defuse the risk of miscalculation at sea, where U.S. and Venezuelan forces are operating in close quarters. “Neither side appears to want open conflict,” said Henry Ziemer of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, “but when large forces are deployed, the risk of an unintended clash grows.” Geoff Ramsey of the Atlantic Council added that the U.S. must now consider what a diplomatic “victory” might look like if talks are pursued.
For Maduro, extending an olive branch while denying U.S. allegations serves both domestic and international purposes: projecting strength to his supporters while attempting to reduce external pressure. Yet the move could also expose him to criticism from political factions at home who see dialogue with Washington as weakness.
The White House has not yet issued a formal response to Maduro’s overture. Whether Grenell becomes a channel for dialogue or whether the military confrontation continues to escalate remains uncertain. But Maduro’s letter represents one of the clearest signals in recent years that Caracas is willing to test the waters of diplomacy with Washington even as naval vessels and accusations continue to circle the Caribbean.