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Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro rejected U.S. accusations of drug trafficking and called for direct dialogue with President Donald Trump in a letter dated Sept. 6, his government said Sunday.
Vice President Delcy Rodriguez confirmed that the letter was delivered through Trump’s special envoy Richard Grenell. In it, Maduro dismissed allegations that his government is tied to “mafia and drug trafficking networks,” calling them “completely unfounded” and “fake news.” He also denied reports that Venezuela refused to accept deported migrants, saying the issue was resolved through discussions with Grenell.
“Venezuela is free of drug production,” Maduro wrote, citing U.N. data that only 5% of Colombia’s drug output transits through Venezuela. He said Venezuelan forces had intercepted more than 70% of that small share this year and destroyed 402 aircraft linked to drug smuggling. “These figures confirm Venezuela’s impeccable record in the fight against international drug trafficking,” the letter said.
Trump, asked about the reported overture, declined to confirm whether he had received it. “We’ll see what happens with Venezuela,” he told reporters.
The exchange came as U.S. forces in the Caribbean escalated operations. Washington said two drug boats were intercepted in recent days—one off Venezuela and another off the Dominican Republic—leaving three dead. Trump first announced the strike Friday, and Dominican authorities confirmed it Sunday.
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The U.S. has deployed eight warships, a nuclear-powered submarine, and 10 fighter jets to the region, moves Venezuelan officials denounced as a “military threat.” Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez on Friday described it as an “undeclared war.”
The operations have also fueled debate over legality. Critics note that U.S. forces are destroying suspected drug vessels rather than seizing them and arresting crews, even though drug trafficking is not a capital offense under U.S. law.
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