Venezuela’s Maduro spotted for first time in days, ending flight speculation

Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro made a public appearance on Sunday after being missing for five days, putting an end to rumors that he had fled the country following a reported ultimatum from President Trump. Maduro attended an annual coffee awards ceremony in Caracas, where he presented prizes and declared Venezuela’s economy as “indestructible, untouchable, unbeatable.”

Prior to this public appearance, Maduro had last been seen on Wednesday driving around Caracas. Reports emerged that Trump had offered Maduro safe passage out of Venezuela if he agreed to resign immediately. However, Maduro’s administration proposed surrendering political control while retaining control of the armed forces, leading to a deadlock in negotiations. Maduro also requested global amnesty for any crimes he and his group had committed, a request that was denied.

In March 2020, Maduro was indicted by the Justice Department on charges of narco-terrorism, conspiracy to import cocaine, possession of machine guns, and conspiracy to possess destructive devices. The indictment accused Maduro of colluding with dissident members of the Colombian revolutionary group FARC to traffic drugs into Central America and the United States.

The US has labeled Maduro as the chief of the Cartel de los Soles, responsible for shipping large quantities of cocaine and other illicit drugs to the US since the early 2000s. The Trump administration offered rewards for information leading to Maduro’s capture, with the amount increasing from $15 million to $50 million.

Tensions escalated when Trump warned pilots to avoid Venezuelan airspace, leading to an attempted contact from Caracas to Washington with no response. Trump confirmed a “phone call” with Maduro, but did not provide further details. The US military has conducted numerous strikes against suspected drug traffickers in Venezuela, resulting in over 80 fatalities. Venezuelan officials accused the Trump administration of committing cold-blooded murder and emphasized the importance of due process for all individuals.

Maduro’s government has not commented on the phone call between Trump and Maduro. The situation remains tense as the political and economic crisis in Venezuela continues to unfold.