Nicolas Maduro confirmed that, “about ten days ago,” he spoke “cordially” by phone with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, amid growing tensions between Caracas and Washington over the US military deployment in the Caribbean.

“About ten days ago, approximately, the White House called Miraflores Palace (seat of the "Welcome dialogue, welcome diplomacy," Maduro expressed, explaining, while recalling his time as foreign minister during the government of President Hugo Chavez, that the conversation was conducted “in a respectful tone” and that he hopes the contact represents a step “towards a respectful dialogue” between the two countries, which have had no diplomatic relations since 2019.

“Welcome dialogue, welcome diplomacy,” Maduro expressed, explaining, while recalling his time as foreign minister during the government of President Hugo Chavez Chavez, who died in 2013, had not addressed the issue until now out of “prudence” and because, in his opinion, there are matters that should remain unresolved “until they occur.”

The head of state insisted that the path between his country and the US must be one of “respect, diplomacy, and dialogue,” and expressed his confidence that “everything will turn out well for the peace, independence, dignity, and future of Venezuela.”

Trump declined to comment on call with Maduro

On Sunday, Trump, speaking to the press aboard Air Force One on his return to the US capital, was asked if he had spoken with Maduro and said: “The answer is yes.”

The president avoided elaborating on the details: “I don't want to comment on it.”

According to The New York Times last Friday,based on anonymous sources familiar with the matter, the conversation between the two leaders was given in the second half of November to agree on a possible meeting between the two in the US.

The call, which included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, It did not result in concrete plans for the meeting, included the report from the New York newspaper, which did not share further details about what was discussed between the two leaders. Maduro has publicly expressed his willingness to dialogue with his US counterpart, something he proposed should be done “face to face.” Tensions between Caracas and Washington have escalated in recent days, and on Saturday Trump warned pilots and airlines to consider Venezuelan airspace and its surrounding areas “closed,” amid a connectivity crisis in the South American nation.