Caracas (TDI): Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro made his first public appearance in several days on Sunday, ending widespread speculation that he might have left the country amid rising tensions with the United States.
Maduro, who typically appears on Venezuelan television multiple times per week, had not been seen publicly since Wednesday, when he shared a video of himself driving around Caracas on his Telegram channel. The absence fueled rumors about his whereabouts.
On Sunday, he attended an annual specialty-coffee awards ceremony in eastern Caracas. In photographs shared online, Maduro was seen sitting before an audience, presenting medals to coffee producers for their top products. He sampled different coffees and made brief remarks, though he did not directly address the current political tensions, CNN reported.
At the conclusion of the event, he proclaimed Venezuela “indestructible, untouchable, unbeatable,” referring to the country’s economy, a likely nod to the ongoing strain with the US. Washington has deployed over a dozen warships and roughly 15,000 troops to the region, citing anti-drug trafficking operations, while Caracas views the moves as attempts to pressure Maduro’s government.
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Maduro’s public appearance coincided with US President Donald Trump confirming that he had spoken with the Venezuelan leader by phone.
In recent days, Trump has intensified pressure on Maduro, warning that strikes on land against drug trafficking networks could be imminent, and instructing airlines, pilots, and criminal networks to avoid Venezuelan airspace. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, however, Trump clarified that his airspace warning did not indicate an impending airstrike.
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“Don’t read anything into it,” Trump said, adding that the warning was issued because the US considers Venezuela “not a very friendly country.”
Meanwhile, tensions escalated further as Maduro accused the United States of attempting to seize Venezuela’s oil reserves by force. In a letter to OPEC Secretary-General Haitham Al Ghais dated November 30, Maduro cited “constant and repeated express threats” from Washington, which he said seriously threaten both Venezuelan oil production and global markets. Venezuela is believed to possess some of the largest oil reserves in the world.
