Asked if the goal ​was to force Mr. Maduro from power, Mr. Trump told reporters: “Well, I ⁠think it probably would... That’s up to him what he wants to do. During the press conference, Mr. Trump also took aim at Colombian President Gustavo Petro, ‌with whom he has also feuded throughout the year. In addition to the strikes, Mr. Trump has previously announced a “blockade” of all oil tankers under sanctions entering and leaving Venezuela. Without directly referring to Trump’s statements, Mr. Maduro said every ⁠leader should attend to the internal affairs of their own country. “If I speak to him again, I will tell him: each country should mind its own internal affairs,” Mr. Maduro said, referring to an initial phone call between the two ⁠leaders last month.

Source: The Hindu December 23, 2025 02:31 UTC