Trump, Maduro (File photos)
US president Donald Trump on Monday (local time) said he is willing to speak to Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, even as a US military build-up in the region has raised tensions. He also said he would be “ok” with US strikes inside Mexico. Trump has sharply increased the number of US forces in the Caribbean to target what he calls drug traffickers operating from countries such as Venezuela and Mexico. Speaking to reporters in the Oval office, Trump said, “At a certain period of time, I’ll be talking to him,” when asked if he would speak to Maduro. Asked if he would approve US strikes in Mexico, Trump said, “It’s ok with me. Whatever we have to do to stop drugs.” He added that he had not said he would do it, but “I’d be proud to do it,” claiming it would save lives.Also read: MAGA mutiny forces Trump turnaround on Epstein files Later, on his weekly TV show, Maduro said he was ready to talk “face to face” with anyone in the United States “who wants to talk to Venezuela.” Venezuela has accused the United States of trying to push for regime change with its military build-up, which includes an aircraft carrier group, warships, and stealth jets. Washington, meanwhile, accuses Maduro of running a “terrorist” drug cartel, a charge he rejects. Since September, US forces have carried out air strikes on boats in international waters, killing at least 83 people accused of transporting drugs, based on an AFP count of publicly released figuresUS marines are conducting military exercises in Trinidad and Tobago. This is the second round of such drills in less than a month. The small island nation lies only about 10 kilometres from Venezuela’s coast.But Trinidad and Tobago’s prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, said the country would not allow its territory to be used for any attack on Venezuela and that the United States had never asked for such access.