The White House reportedly rejected a proposal by Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down after a two-year term, in the framework of unofficial negotiations that would have been authorized by President Donald Trump to explore solutions to the crisis in Venezuela, according to an investigation published Tuesday by the New York Times.
The New York Times assures that Trump gave “his approval” to the plans of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for operations that could be aimed at preparing a “battlefield for future actions” and that they rehabilitated off-the-record communication with Maduro, who would have presented a proposal to resign to Washington, which was rejected.
White House rejected offer of Maduro
The article cites officials who spoke on condition of anonymity and who knew that members of the Maduro government offered the Trump administration a two- to three-year transition process in order to ensure an orderly resignation.
However, the White House considers it unacceptable that Maduro’s departure from power be postponed.
According to New York Times sources Maduro, during informal talks, reportedly indicated a willingness to offer access to Venezuela’s oil wealth to U.S. energy companies.
Last week, Trump held different conversations at the White House with the main authorities of the Pentagon where he was presented with several options for the continuity of actions in the military campaign that since August the Southern Command has been leading in the Caribbean, near the Venezuelan coasts.
The New York Times assures that although the Republican’s future actions on Venezuela are not clear, covert actions could continue, without authorizing combat on the ground, and prioritizing psychological or attrition strategies, as well as cyber or information operations.
The publication adds that officials close to the White House knew that the CIA has located different facilities allegedly related to drug trafficking that could be attacked under a presidential order.
Last week, Trump publicly admitted, on the presidential plane, that he would be willing to dialogue with Maduro and earlier assured that he had already made a decision on Venezuela, but would not reveal details.
In parallel, Trump has unleashed what the Pentagon calls Operation‘Southern Lance‘, with a historic naval deployment in the Caribbean: the aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, several warships and about 12,000 military personnel, according to U.S. officials.
Since August, the US has carried out at least 21 attacks against suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific, destroying 22 boats, with an estimated death toll of more than 80 people, according to the Southern Command.
With information from EFE
