The Venezuelan leader expressed hope that the phone call would be the start of a “respectful dialogue” between Washington and Caracas.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has confirmed that he spoke by phone with US President Donald Trump late last month, as the US military buildup raises fears of war.
President Maduro said in an interview on state-run Venezolana de TV on Wednesday that he decided to talk about his “heartfelt” call with President Trump about 10 days ago because international media had reported certain information and he wanted to avoid “microphone diplomacy.”
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Referring to the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, for whom he served as foreign minister, President Maduro said, “During my six years as foreign minister, I learned diplomatic prudence, and then, having served as president and received the guidance of General Chávez, I value prudence.”
“I don’t like diplomacy through microphones. When there are important issues, you have to deal with them quietly until they are resolved!”
President Maduro welcomed the call as a possible step toward “respectful dialogue” and said his country would always seek peace.
Maduro added that Trump would not say more because he values ”discretion” and “respect.”
“By the grace of God and the Commander of commanders, the Lord Jesus Christ, all will be well for the peace, independence, dignity and future of Venezuela,” he said.
Maduro’s remarks came after President Trump said he spoke by phone with the Venezuelan leader on Sunday, amid the worst diplomatic crisis in years between Washington and Caracas.
Trump again mentioned his phone call with Maduro on Wednesday, but did not provide specific details of the conversation.
“I just talked to him briefly and we talked about a few things. We’ll see how it goes,” Trump said at a White House press conference.
“Venezuela is sending us drugs, but Venezuela is sending us people it shouldn’t be sending.”
As part of increased pressure on Maduro, the Trump administration sent the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, blew up suspected drug-smuggling vessels from Venezuela and other Latin American countries, and threatened to carry out attacks on Venezuelan soil.
Trump administration officials have characterized the military operation as an effort to combat drug trafficking.
Although Venezuela does not produce much of the world’s cocaine supply, it is a transit point for an estimated 10-13% of production in 2020, according to U.S. government estimates.
President Maduro accused President Trump of using the anti-drug campaign as a pretext to overthrow the government and seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
In a defiant speech at a rally in Caracas on Monday, President Maduro said his country wants peace, but that it comes with “sovereignty, equality and freedom.”
“We want neither slave peace nor colonial peace! Colonies, never! Slaves, never!” he said.
