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The revelation that US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone last week with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro comes amid a crisis in relations between the two sides that could escalate into hostility.
The two leaders also discussed a possible meeting between them, the New York Times reported, citing people familiar with the matter. There are currently no plans for such a meeting.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was also present at the conversation that took place late last week.
The report was co-written by Maggie Haberman, a well-sourced journalist inside the White House.
A few days ago, Axios reported that Trump wants to have direct contact with Maduro.
The White House did not officially comment on the report and the Venezuelan government declined to comment, but two people close to the Venezuelan government confirmed that a phone call took place.
It is worth noting that the conversation took place a few days before the State Department's decision to declare Maduro the leader of the Del los Soles cartel, which the US government considers a foreign terrorist organization, came into effect. All this comes against a backdrop of tensions, as the US has significantly strengthened its military presence in the Caribbean with Venezuela in mind, as the New York Times points out.
The US government's goal is to end illegal drug trafficking, although the possibility of removing Nicolas Maduro from power, even by force, is not ruled out.
The same newspaper had revealed in October a series of secret moves by the Venezuelan leader. Maduro allegedly offered the United States a significant stake in the country's oil fields, along with a series of other concessions for American companies, to reduce tension between the two sides.
However, Maduro sought to remain in power and US officials broke off talks.
Trump's tactic of approaching opponents in two directions, threats in public and direct contact behind the scenes, is not unprecedented.
Attacks on Venezuelan drug ships (or so the US claims) have left over 80 dead and show no signs of stopping anytime soon. At the same time, a powerful naval force led by the aircraft carrier "Gerald Ford" has arrived off the coast of Venezuela.
Just yesterday, in fact, Trump said that anti-drug operations would also be carried out on the ground "very soon."
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