In a dramatic escalation of tensions, former US President Donald Trump reportedly delivered a stark ultimatum to Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro during a recent phone call: relinquish power and leave the country immediately.
The Blunt Phone Call
According to sources speaking to the Miami Herald, the conversation, which is believed to have taken place on 21 November, contained a direct demand from Trump. The message was unequivocal: "You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country now." Trump allegedly offered safe passage for Maduro, his wife, and his son, but only on the condition of an immediate resignation.
This call forms a central part of a four-month pressure campaign against Maduro's regime, which has also seen Trump order a significant naval deployment off Venezuela's northern coast. On Monday 1 December, Trump reportedly convened his top national security advisers to further discuss the Venezuela situation, though the details of that meeting remain confidential.
Maduro's Counter-Demands and Refusal
Faced with Trump's demand for a swift exit, President Maduro reportedly refused to step down. Instead, he presented a series of counter-proposals. Sources indicate he sought a worldwide immunity from prosecution for himself and his allies. Furthermore, he allegedly proposed a scenario where he would cede political control but retain command of Venezuela's armed forces.
When questioned by reporters on Sunday about the extraordinary diplomatic exchange, Trump offered a cryptic assessment, stating, "I wouldn't say it went well or badly, it was a phone call." Neither the US nor Venezuelan governments have provided further official detail on the discussion's contents.
Broader Context and Related Developments
The standoff with Venezuela is not occurring in a vacuum. The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, has expressed concern that impending talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, could increase pressure on Ukraine to make concessions.
Domestically, a scathing 115-page report has criticised the FBI, claiming the agency is "internally paralyzed by fear" under Director Kash Patel, leading to plummeting morale. In other news, Trump stated he would release the results of an MRI scan from an October physical but could not specify which part of his body was examined.
This high-stakes diplomatic manoeuvring underscores the volatile nature of US-Venezuela relations, with Trump's reported ultimatum marking a significant and public hardening of stance against the Maduro regime.
