Maduro Calls Venezuela a ‘Brother Country’ to the U.S., Offers Oil Access and Drug Talks to Trump.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has struck a notably conciliatory tone toward the United States, calling Venezuela a “brother country” to America and proposing serious negotiations with President Donald Trump on drug trafficking and oil access.
In an interview filmed on New Year’s Eve and aired on state television, Maduro said Washington already recognizes his authority, recalling a November phone call in which Trump addressed him as “Mr. President.”
“To the people of the United States, I say what I have always said — Venezuela is a brother country, a friendly government,” Maduro said. “We must start to speak seriously, with the facts in hand.”
The longtime strongman said Venezuela is ready to cooperate fully with the U.S. on combating narcotics trafficking and offered American companies open access to the country’s vast oil reserves.
“If they want to speak seriously about battling drug trafficking, we are ready,” Maduro said. “If they want Venezuela’s oil, Venezuela is ready to accept U.S. investments like those of Chevron — when, where, and how they want.”
The remarks mark a sharp shift in rhetoric as the U.S. increases its military presence in the southern Caribbean and Trump continues to label Maduro’s government a narco-state. Just weeks ago, Maduro publicly dismissed Trump’s pressure, urging him to focus on domestic issues.
The interview itself was highly choreographed: Maduro walked through a militarized zone of Caracas, then drove a car with the interviewer beside him and First Lady Cilia Flores in the back — a display widely interpreted as an attempt to project confidence amid growing regional tensions and fears of U.S. escalation.
Whether Washington engages remains unclear. But the message from Caracas was unmistakable: Maduro is signaling readiness to bargain — oil for diplomacy, cooperation for survival.
