Erdogan calls on Maduro to engage in dialogue with Washington amid military tensions
In a diplomatic move aimed at calming the tense atmosphere in Latin America, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan made a phone call to his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, advising him to keep communication channels open with the United States, amid rising indications of possible US military action towards Caracas.
A call for calm and prioritizing diplomacy
According to a statement issued by the Turkish Presidency, Erdoğan stressed during the call the importance of continued dialogue between Caracas and Washington, considering diplomatic solutions the best way to overcome crises. The statement quoted the Turkish President as saying, "It is important to keep channels of dialogue open between the United States and Venezuela," expressing his hope that the escalating tension in the Caribbean region would be contained as soon as possible, and emphasizing that Turkey is closely monitoring developments and believes that "problems can be resolved through dialogue.".
Venezuelan fears of military buildup
For its part, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry issued a statement detailing the call, noting that the Turkish president expressed his "deep concern" regarding the threats surrounding Venezuela. These concerns centered on the intensified US military presence in the region, which Caracas described as aimed at "disrupting peace and security in the Caribbean.".
The statement said that Maduro gave his Turkish counterpart a detailed explanation of what he described as the "illegal and disproportionate nature" of these American threats, considering them to be costly and unnecessary measures targeting his country's sovereignty.
Context of the tension: drugs and an air blockade
This call comes at a time of unprecedented tension in US-Venezuelan relations, with Washington intensifying pressure on the Maduro regime through a massive military buildup in the Caribbean. The administration of US President Donald Trump accuses Maduro and senior officials in his government of leading a drug-trafficking cartel, charges Caracas vehemently denies.
As part of this escalation, US forces carried out more than 20 strikes targeting boats suspected of smuggling, killing at least 87 people. Last month, Washington also deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the region, accompanied by a naval fleet, and declared Venezuelan airspace "closed," effectively suspending all international flights—a matter discussed by the Turkish and Venezuelan leaders during their phone call.
Turkish-Venezuelan relations: a strategic alliance
This contact cannot be viewed in isolation from the deepening ties that have bound Ankara and Caracas in recent years. Erdogan visited Venezuela in December 2018 to declare his unequivocal support for Maduro at a time when Washington and European capitals were questioning the legitimacy of his re-election. Turkey considers Venezuela a strategic partner in Latin America, and cooperation between the two countries has expanded to include gold, energy, and trade, in clear defiance of Western sanctions.
Reports from US officials indicate that Türkiye could be a possible destination for Maduro if he is forced to step down and leave the country, reflecting the high level of trust between the two leaders.
Contradictions of the American position
Despite the military buildup and threats, the Venezuelan president revealed on Wednesday that he had a "friendly" phone call with US President Donald Trump about ten days earlier. Trump confirmed the call took place last Sunday but did not elaborate, adding to the mystery surrounding US intentions amidst the military escalation and back-channel diplomatic contacts.
