Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he was willing to discuss the war on drugs, oil and economic deals with Washington during a television interview broadcast yesterday, amid a crisis with the United States, which is exerting great pressure on his country through the deployment of warships in the Caribbean.
Maduro reiterated that the United States wants to force a change of government in Venezuela and gain access to its vast oil reserves through its months-long pressure campaign, which began with a massive military deployment in the Caribbean Sea in August.
"What are they asking for? It is clear that they want to impose themselves through threats, intimidation and force," the Venezuelan president said, adding that it is time for the two nations "to start talking seriously, with concrete facts." "The United States government knows, because we have told many of its spokesmen, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we are ready," Maduro stressed.
"If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for American investment, like with Chevron, when they want it, where they want it, and how they want it."