Venezuela’s Executive Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed this Sunday that President Nicolás Maduro sent a letter to his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, in which he says he is willing to hold direct talks with his special envoy, Richard Grenell.
“At present, many polemics have been opened around the relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela. In the midst of these controversies we have witnessed countless ‘fake news’, so called, circulating in the media,” reads the missive dated September 6 and published by Rodriguez on Telegram.
Maduro calls for direct communication
Likewise, Maduro recalled the ‘fake news’ that Venezuela had refused to accept the return of deported migrants.
“That issue was quickly resolved and clarified in a conversation with Ambassador Richard Grenell.”
“This channel, as of today, has functioned impeccably,” the Venezuelan president said in the letter.
In addition, the Chavista leader said that in the course of these first months of Trump’s administration, he has always sought:
“Direct communication to address and resolve any issues that arise” between the two governments.
“In the last few weeks, the absolutely false accusations of links with mafias and drug trafficking gangs by the high legitimate authorities of Venezuela have taken center stage,” the letter added.
No links to drugs
According to Maduro, this is the worst of the ‘fake news’ that has been launched against Venezuela, he said:
“Justifying an escalation to an armed conflict that would do catastrophic damage to the entire continent.”
“I spoke at length with special envoy Rick Grenell about this and other issues,” he added.
The President assured that Venezuela is a “territory free of drug production and (a) country not relevant in the field of narcotics”.
Record in the fight against drugs
Citing United Nations data, Maduro indicated that only 5% of the drugs leaving Colombia “attempt” to be transported through Venezuela.
“Being -he assured- combated, intercepted and destroyed” when seized.
“A very relevant fact is that this year we have already neutralized and destroyed more than 70% of that small percentage that try to cross that extensive border, of more than 2,200 kilometers that we have with Colombia,” Maduro explained.
He also stated that the Venezuelan military has destroyed 402 aircraft linked to drug trafficking.
“These data confirm Venezuela’s impeccable record in the fight against international illicit drug trafficking, as expressed by all international organizations and agencies specialized in the matter,” he added.
Seeks dialogue with Trump and rejects rumors
Maduro said he hopes to be able to “defeat” these ‘fake news’ together with Trump, which “fill with noise a relationship that has to be historic and peaceful”.
“These and other issues will always be open for a direct and frank conversation with your special envoy, Rick Grenell, to overcome media noise and fake news,” reiterated the Venezuelan head of state.
Trump avoided confirming Sunday whether he received a letter from Maduro.
When asked about this issue, he simply said: “We will see what happens with Venezuela”.
Trump threatens Venezuela
The day before, the U.S. president said in Truth Social that Venezuela will pay a high price if it does not readmit its “prisoners” who have been “forced” to go to the United States by the “Venezuelan leadership”.
This in the midst of escalating tensions over Washington’s military deployment in the Caribbean Sea.
Since August, the U.S. has already intercepted four vessels allegedly involved in drug trafficking in the Caribbean off the Venezuelan coast.
According to the White House, at least three of them, presumably from Venezuela, and the fourth, whose origin is unknown, sank on Friday night in the waters off the Dominican Republic, according to EFE.
For more information, visit QuéOnnda.com.
