Trump is Granted the Option to Speak Directly with Maduro, Sources Say

Authorities have been in ongoing discussions about how communication between Venezuela and the US would proceed, multiple sources told CNN. One of the options presented to President Donald Trump is direct talks between him and Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, but an official stated that nothing has been decided yet. Maduro and his allies have reached out to the White House through various channels, several government officials said. In recent weeks, Trump has decided he wants to resume informal talks with the Venezuelan leadership, despite his administration designating Maduro and his allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization. The designation, announced on November 16, comes at a time when the US military has deployed over a dozen warships and 15,000 troops to the region as part of Operation Southern Lance, as named by the Pentagon.