US-Venezuela Tensions Escalate Amid Claims of Airstrike and Resource Control Concerns
Venezuela's President Maduro urged the Trump administration to abandon what he called illegal warmongering and to engage in serious talks following US claims of an airstrike in Venezuela.
Maduro did not confirm that an airstrike had occurred and suggested that Washington's allegations may be aimed at seizing Venezuela's oil, gold, and rare-earth metals.
The Trump administration stated that the US had targeted a docking facility last month used by drug-trafficking boats; some US media outlets reported that the CIA was behind the drone strike.
If verified, this strike would be the first on Venezuelan soil and represent a new phase in a US campaign involving a significant naval presence, airstrikes on drug traffickers, and a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers with vessel seizures.
Maduro rejected the US accusations outright and called once more for serious talks and dialogue with Washington.
He also claimed that US attempts to portray Venezuela as a narco-terrorist threat are intended to justify intervention and to gain control over Venezuelan resources.
