Has Trump made up his mind for a war with Venezuela? He calls off diplomatic outreach to Maduro

US President Donald Trump has ruled out a diplomatic solution to mitigate tensions with Venezuela, potentially giving way for the American military to ramp up its efforts against drug traffickers and the government under President Nicolás Maduro.

Richard Grenell, serving as a special presidential envoy and executive director of the Kennedy Center, had been engaged in negotiations with Maduro and other high-ranking officials. However, during a meeting with senior military leaders last week, Trump called Grenell and directed him to immediately halt all diplomatic efforts, including his ongoing discussions with Maduro, according to officials who spoke to the New York Times.

Trump has been trying to push Maduro out of his chair for not acceding to the US demands of leaving the government voluntarily.

Ties between the US and Venezuela have dipped after Trump ordered his military to attack suspected “drug boats”, alleging that they were deployed by Venezuelan gang members. Meanwhile, Venezuela has repeatedly denied involvement in alleged drug trafficking.

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What is Trump planning?

American officials have stated that the Trump administration has prepared several military options in the event of an escalation, some of which may involve efforts to remove Nicolás Maduro from power. Secretary of State and National Security Adviser Marco Rubio has labelled Maduro an “illegitimate” leader and has frequently referenced the US indictment against him on drug trafficking charges.

A White House official told the NYT that Trump is ready to use “every element of American power” to prevent drugs from entering the US soil. At the same time, Rubio and Trump allies in the government have been lobbying to launch a program meant to push Maduro out of power.

In a notice to Congress last week, the Trump administration declared that the United States is engaged in a formal “armed conflict” with drug cartels. The notice classified the cartels as terrorist organisations and described their members involved in drug smuggling as “unlawful combatants.”

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Maduro says ready to declare emergency

Maduro has said that his government is ready to declare a state of emergency in the country amid threats from the US over an imminent attack.

Last week, Maduro announced in a televised address that the “consultation process” had begun to declare “a state of external unrest, in accordance with the Constitution, and to protect our people, our peace, and our stability … should Venezuela be attacked by the US empire, militarily attacked.”

Maduro has signed a decree granting him additional security powers in case of a military incursion into the country, the nation’s vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, said.

The decree would allow Maduro to mobilise armed forces throughout the country and give the military authority over public services and the oil industry.