In an interview conducted on New Year’s Eve, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro declined to comment on the reports and claims of a US “ground attack” inside Venezuela.
President Trump first claimed the US “knocked out” a big drug-related facility, and US officials later told media outlets that the attack was a CIA drone strike conducted on December 24 that targeted a dock facility allegedly used by the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
“Look, that might be a topic we discuss in a few days, in a second version of this podcast, right? Surely in a few days we could talk about it,” Maduro said when asked about the alleged attack, according to a transcript published by Telesur.
“What I can tell you is that our national defense system, which combines popular, military, and police forces, has guaranteed and continues to guarantee the territorial integrity, the peace of the country, and the use and enjoyment of all our territories. And our people are safe and at peace,” the Venezuelan leader added.
Maduro also discussed his phone call with President Trump in November, which he said was cordial, though he noted US escalations against Venezuela continued after the conversation. “I think that conversation was even pleasant. But after that, the post-conversation developments have not been pleasant,” he said.
The Venezuelan leader also denied the Trump administration’s claims that his government was involved in drug trafficking and called for peace with the US, noting that the majority of American people don’t want war with Venezuela, something that’s been demonstrated by several polls.
Maduro was also critical of recent US aggression against Venezuela, which has included a partial oil blockade and seizure of two tankers carrying Venezuelan oil, actions he said clearly violated international law. “They are blatantly violating international laws and also there is a large ethical, moral component. Because the people of the United States have to ask themselves if they elected their current government to start military interventions again in Latin America,” he said.
