Trump leaves military action against Venezuela on the table but floats possible talks

By REGINA GARCIA CANO and AAMER MADHANI WASHINGTON AP President Donald Trump on Monday did not rule out military action against Venezuela despite bringing up a foreseen diplomatic opening with leader Nicol s Maduro who has insisted that a U S military buildup and strikes on alleged drug boats near his South American country are designed to push him out of office Related Articles EPA moves to limit scope of clean water law to reduce amount of wetlands it covers Homeland Protection agents make arrest dozens in North Carolina s largest city Here s what to know President Donald Trump unveils FIFA Pass to help World Cup travelers get their visas faster America will celebrate its th birthday next year There s a commemorative ornament for it Trump says he will sell F- s to Saudi Arabia on eve of crown prince s Washington visit Trump reiterated that he perhaps would talk to Maduro but underscored that he is not taking off the table the possibility of military action on Venezuelan territory I don t rule out that I don t rule out anything Trump narrated reporters in the Oval Office a day after he first floated the possibility of having discussions with Maduro Trump however sidestepped questions about whether Maduro could say anything to him that would lead to the U S backing off its military show of force He s done tremendous damage to our country explained Trump tying Maduro to drugs and newcomers coming into the U S from Venezuela He has not been good to the United States so we ll see what happens The comments deepened the uncertainty about the Trump administration s next efforts toward Maduro s authorities The U S has ratcheted up the pressure in contemporary days saying it was expecting to designate as a terrorist organization a cartel it says is led by Maduro and other high-level Venezuelan leadership functionaries The USS Gerald R Ford and accompanying warships arrived in the Caribbean this weekend just as the U S military stated its latest in a series of strikes against vessels suspected of transporting drugs Can turn plan on a dime The administration says its actions are a counterdrug operation meant to stop narcotics from flowing to American cities but selected analysts Venezuelans and the country s political opposition see them as an escalating pressure tactic against Maduro The Trump administration has shown it can turn strategy on a dime disclosed Geoff Ramsey an expert on U S approach toward Venezuela who is a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council He pointed to the diplomatic talks the administration held with Iran right up until the point that the U S military targeted Iran s nuclear facilities in June But Ramsey added the timing of Trump s remarks after Secretary of State Marco Rubio s announcement of the impending terrorist designation of the Cartel de los Soles underscores that the administration does not want to repeat failed attempts at dialogue They really want to negotiate from a place of strength and I think the White House is laying out an ultimatum for Maduro Ramsey noted Either he engages in credible talks about a transition or the U S will have no choice but to escalate Maduro has negotiated with the U S and Venezuela s political opposition for several years most of notably in the two years before the July presidential electoral contest Those negotiations resulted in agreements meant to pave the way for a free and democratic vote but Maduro repeatedly tested their limits ultimately claiming triumph despite credible evidence that he lost the contest by a -to- margin Among the concessions the U S made to Maduro during negotiations was approval for oil giant Chevron Corp to resume pumping and exporting Venezuelan oil The corporation s sessions in the South American country resulted in a financial lifeline for Maduro s regime Neither Maduro nor his chief negotiator National Assembly president Jorge Rodriguez commented Monday on Trump s remarks A spokesperson for Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Mar a Corina Machado described reporters Monday that she would not comment on Trump s remarks Trump also talks about Mexico Trump didn t even rule out realizable military action against close allies in the region Would I want strikes in Mexico to stop drugs OK with me whatever we have to do to stop drugs Trump commented adding that he s not happy with Mexico Trump mentioned the U S regime has drug corridors from Mexico under major surveillance and explained he would also like to target Colombia s cocaine factories Would I knock out those factories I would be proud to do it personally I didn t say I m doing it but I would be proud to do it he stated Skepticism and hope in Venezuela about practicable talks Trump s goal on Venezuela remains unclear but above all Ramsey declared the president is looking for a win And he may be flexible on exactly what that looks like Ramsey announced I could envision the U S pushing for greater control over Venezuela s natural information including oil as well as greater cooperation with the president s migration and shield goals In Venezuela s capital Caracas people responded with skepticism and hope to the possibility of a new dialogue between the U S and Maduro whose executive has fueled rumors of a ground invasion despite the Trump administration giving little clear indication of such a plan If the dialogue authentically happens I hope the executive will genuinely follow through this time shopkeeper Gustavo Garc a explained as he left church We have to be serious They ve gotten us used to them talking but they don t honor the agreements You don t mess with Trump Stay-at-home mother Mery Mart nez mentioned Talking is consistently better Anything that helps prevent a tragedy is good Mart nez disclosed Venezuelans don t deserve this A war benefits no one Garcia Cano published from Caracas Venezuela Associated Press writer Jorge Rueda in Caracas contributed to this description