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U.S. discussions on Venezuela’s political future have unexpectedly placed Türkiye among potential exile destinations for Nicolas Maduro, according to Politico.
Ankara’s inclusion reflects its close and sustained ties with Caracas at a time when many Western governments have isolated Maduro.
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Türkiye has maintained strong political and economic relations with Maduro, who visited Türkiye multiple times, including in 2017 and 2022.
Erdogan became the first Turkish president to visit Venezuela in 2018, and Maduro attended Erdogan’s 2018 inauguration in Ankara.
The two leaders have continued regular contact, most recently through a 2024 phone call, while cooperation has expanded through gold trade, energy deals and direct Turkish Airlines flights connecting Caracas and Istanbul.
Against this backdrop, The New York Times reports that Donald Trump authorized CIA preparations for potential covert action in Venezuela and approved informal negotiations in which Maduro allegedly signaled possible concessions on issues such as prisoners, migration, oil, gold and limiting ties with Russia, China and Iran.
Trump publicly suggested dialogue is possible, stating, “We’ll see how it ends; they want to talk.”
At the same time, the U.S. launched Operation Southern Spear, a massive anti-drug operation with more than 15,000 troops, F-35 jets, nuclear submarines and the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group, the largest deployment in the region since Operation Just Cause in 1990.
U.S. officials link the effort to networks allegedly tied to the Tren de Aragua gang and figures close to Maduro.
Washington is also considering options such as arresting Maduro or encouraging internal actors to depose him, though experts warn that his removal could destabilize Venezuela by empowering rival military factions, colectivos and groups like the ELN.
The U.S. now recognizes Edmundo Gonzalez as the rightful winner of the 2024 election, while Maria Corina Machado remains in hiding.
Maduro’s government rejects any negotiation over a transfer of power, with Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello insisting the only valid framework is respect for the Constitution and accusing the opposition of seeking abroad what they “failed to obtain through votes.”
While Trump has said Maduro’s “days are numbered,” experts stress that removing the Venezuelan leader, whether via negotiation or force, would mark only the beginning of a long and uncertain rebuilding process.
Trump has said he has made a decision on Venezuela but will not disclose it for now.
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