Vance: Maduro ignored Trump's offers of compromise before his arrest
US Vice President Jay D. Vance revealed intriguing details about the strained relations between Washington and Caracas, indicating that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was recently arrested, squandered several golden opportunities for a political settlement offered by the Trump administration. Vance asserted in a press statement that the Venezuelan leadership misjudged the seriousness of the US position, ultimately leading to the execution of justice.
Details of rejected offers
Vice President Mike Pence explained on his X platform that President Donald Trump did not seek direct escalation from the outset, but rather presented Maduro with "more than one way out" and multiple paths to avoid the current predicament. The US Vice President indicated that these offers were clearly contingent on ending the drug trafficking activities in which the regime was involved, as well as returning the oil assets that Washington considers stolen from the American people and interests. Pence added, "The President has been clear throughout this process, but Maduro is the last person to realize that Trump means exactly what he says.".
Background of the conflict and charges of “drug terrorism”
These developments culminate years of escalating tensions between the United States and Venezuela. In 2020, the US Department of Justice formally charged Maduro and several of his top aides with “narco-terrorism,” alleging they conspired to flood the United States with cocaine and use drugs as a weapon to destabilize American society. Washington offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest, a context that reinforces Vance’s current statements that the arrest was not a spur-of-the-moment decision but rather the result of a lengthy legal process.
The economic dimension: oil and sanctions
Beyond the criminal aspect, the oil file plays a pivotal role in the crisis. Venezuela possesses the world's largest proven oil reserves, yet its energy sector has suffered near-total collapse due to mismanagement and the crippling US sanctions imposed during Trump's first term and continued afterward. Washington considers regaining control over energy flows and preventing their use to finance illicit activities a matter of US national security, a point Vance alluded to when he spoke of "returning the stolen oil.".
A firm message: There is no immunity in palaces
Vance concluded his remarks with a strongly worded message directed not only at the Venezuelan regime but at anyone who considers themselves above international law, stating, “You cannot evade justice for drug trafficking in the United States just because you live in a palace in Caracas.” This statement signals a significant shift in US foreign policy toward pursuing extraterritorial prosecutions against heads of state involved in major criminal cases, potentially altering the political landscape in Latin America and globally.
