Maduro and his cronies have made a mockery of America for years under Biden. Now he’s finished.
And Venezuela waved the white flag of surrender after Trump made a bold move.
Maduro’s Hollow Offers Amid Escalating US Pressure
Venezuela’s embattled leader, Nicolás Maduro, extended what appears to be a desperate olive branch in a New Year’s Eve interview, claiming his regime stands prepared to negotiate with the United States on curbing drug flows.
This comes just days after a CIA drone hit a suspected cartel hub on Venezuelan territory, part of Washington’s intensifying efforts to dismantle networks tied to the socialist strongman.
In the discussion with Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet, aired on state-controlled television January 2, 2026, Maduro stated: “The US government knows, because we’ve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to seriously discuss an agreement to combat drug trafficking, we’re ready.”
He went further, dangling economic incentives: “If they want oil, Venezuela is ready for US investment, like with Chevron, whenever they want it, wherever they want it and however they want it.”
Such gestures ring empty given Maduro’s long history of evading accountability while his government faces accusations of enabling narcotics operations that flood American streets.
Deadly Strikes Expose Cartel Ties
The US has ramped up operations against alleged smuggling routes, conducting at least 35 targeted hits on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since early September, resulting in over 115 deaths among suspected operatives. These actions form a core element of a sustained drive to cripple the Maduro regime’s illicit activities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid out the rationale plainly on December 19: “The current status quo with the current Venezuelan regime is intolerable for the United States.”
He elaborated: “The status quo [is] that they operate and cooperate with terrorist organizations against the national interest of the United States — not just cooperate, but partner with and participate in activities that threaten the national interest of the United States. So yes, our goal is to change that dynamic and that’s why the president is doing what he’s doing.”
The recent drone assault on a docking site, disclosed by President Trump in a radio appearance December 26, marked the first confirmed incursion onto Venezuelan land in this campaign, underscoring the no-holds-barred approach to severing these dangerous connections.
Indictments and a Push for Regime Change
Maduro, 63, remains under US indictment for grave offenses including drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption—charges that paint him as a central figure in the very criminal enterprises his latest remarks pretend to oppose.
He sidestepped direct comment on the strike during the interview, merely noting he could “talk about it in a few days.”
This evasion fits a pattern of deflection from a ruler who has clung to power through repression, electoral manipulation, and alliances with rogue actors, all while Venezuela’s economy crumbles and its people suffer.
The Trump administration’s multifaceted strategy, including threats of broader intervention, aims squarely at ending this era of instability and restoring order for both nations.
