Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during his Con Maduro+ program on Nov. 17, 2025. Photo: Venezuelan Presidential Press.
Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro reiterates a core principle of his government’s foreign policy: diplomacy is the only effective path for mutual understanding between sovereign nations, and sustained dialogue is the necessary road to achieving truth and lasting peace.
The diplomatic overture comes at a moment of significant geopolitical tension, defined by a formidable U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean Sea, a move that the Venezuelan government has repeatedly condemned as a direct and unacceptable threat.
A call for dialogue in a time of threats
Speaking during his weekly broadcast, “Con Maduro +,” the Venezuelan head of state framed the letter as a reaffirmation of principled leadership.
“The most powerful thing a leader can have is the word,”, president Maduro declared, emphasizing the importance of communication over confrontation.
“I delivered a letter to the President of the United States. Venezuela has an unwavering position; we firmly question the threat and the use of force to impose rules on countries.”
He continued by outlining the philosophical basis for his appeal: “We ratify that only through diplomacy should free countries understand each other, and dialogue is the way to seek truth and peace. Peace has no alternative.”
President Maduro also took the opportunity to push back against what he described as a concerted campaign of disinformation led by Washington. He assured his audience that Venezuela would not be intimidated or silenced.
“The extravagant lies of the U.S. will not silence us,” he affirmed.
“This nation will continue to defend its truth in all forums.”
Washington’s ambiguous stance
The context for this letter is further complicated by the Trump administration’s own mixed signals regarding its Venezuela policy.
While the official U.S. strategy has been one of “maximum pressure”—involving crippling economic sanctions, the seizure of Venezuelan assets —President Trump has occasionally departed from this script.
Just a few months ago, Trump created a political firestorm by telling reporters he was “not opposed” to meeting with President Maduro.
This comment appeared to directly contradict the hardline stance championed by his own advisors and drew swift condemnation from anti-Maduro figures in both the Republican and Democratic parties.
The White House was subsequently forced to issue a “clarification,” with the press secretary stating that the president would only ever meet with Maduro to negotiate the terms of his peaceful exit from power.
This incident exposed a fault line in Washington’s strategy, suggesting a potential gap between the president’s transactional instincts and his administration’s publicly stated policy.
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A threat in the Caribbean
President Maduro’s call for diplomacy is set against a backdrop of significant military maneuvering. Earlier this year, the U.S. Southern Command initiated “enhanced counter-narcotics operations” in the Caribbean.
These operations, while ostensibly aimed at combating drug trafficking, are perceived by regional Governments as a potential threat against peace and stability in the Latin America and Caribbean region.
The Venezuelan president has consistently denounced what he views as U.S. interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs, and this latest military activity is likely to further stoke tensions.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during his Con Maduro+ program on Nov. 17, 2025. Photo: Venezuelan Presidential Press.
(Telesur)
