The White House announced on Monday that it had received a letter from Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, in which he expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue. However, according to spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, the letter was riddled with "numerous lies." Leavitt stated, "Frankly, I believe there were many falsehoods that Maduro repeated in that letter, and the administration's stance remains unchanged: we continue to view Maduro's regime as illegitimate," during a press briefing cited by EFE agency.
Additionally, the spokesperson highlighted that the U.S. President is prepared to utilize all necessary means to halt the illegal trafficking of deadly drugs originating from the Venezuelan regime into the United States.
Maduro's Letter: Allegations and "Fake News" Claims
The letter, addressed to President Donald Trump and released through official media in Caracas, sought to refute what Maduro described as "fake news" regarding his alleged connections to drug trafficking. The Venezuelan leader employed the term up to five times, echoing a phrase popularized by Trump himself.
In his message, Maduro directly blamed Colombia and the government of Gustavo Petro as the "true epicenter of drug trafficking in the region." To support his argument, he claimed that 87% of the cocaine produced in the neighboring country exits through the Pacific, whereas only 5% crosses Venezuelan territory.
Furthermore, the Chavista president asserted that Venezuela has "neutralized 402 aircraft" linked to drug transportation this year and seized over 70% of the shipments attempting to cross the shared border.
Military Tensions and a Blow to an Ally
This correspondence comes amid escalating military tensions in the Caribbean, where Washington has bolstered its presence with destroyers, nuclear submarines, and F-35 aircraft, citing efforts to combat the so-called "Cartel of the Suns," which the United States claims is led by Maduro.
The accusations against Colombia are particularly surprising given the political context. Petro has been one of the few Latin American presidents to openly defend the Chavista regime, even dismissing the existence of the Cartel of the Suns. His support has drawn criticism in the U.S. Congress, where lawmakers accused him of "collaborating with a narco-terrorism cartel."
Maduro's pivot, pointing to Bogotá as responsible for regional drug trafficking, is seen by analysts as a low blow to his main ally and a sign of international isolation.
"President, I hope we can together defeat these fake news stories that cloud a relationship that should be historic and peaceful, as our Liberator Simón Bolívar always envisioned," Maduro wrote at the conclusion of his letter to Trump.
Meanwhile, the White House has made it clear that they are not swayed by Maduro's narrative: they view the Chavista regime as illegitimate and accuse it of flooding the United States with deadly drugs.
Insights on U.S.-Venezuela Relations
What was the White House's response to Maduro's letter?
The White House dismissed the letter as containing numerous lies and reiterated its stance that Maduro's regime is viewed as illegitimate.
How did Maduro describe his alleged drug trafficking connections?
Maduro referred to the accusations as "fake news," a term he used multiple times in his letter to counter claims of his involvement in drug trafficking.
What military actions has the U.S. taken in response to the situation?
The United States has increased its military presence in the Caribbean with destroyers, nuclear submarines, and F-35 aircraft as part of efforts to combat the "Cartel of the Suns."