Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called on U.S. President Donald Trump to cease what he described as "illegal warmongering" and to engage in serious talks with his administration, amidst ongoing tensions and unconfirmed reports of a U.S. airstrike on Venezuelan soil. Speaking during a televised interview, Maduro addressed Trump's accusations that he leads a narco-terrorist organization flooding the U.S. with drugs, rejecting the claim.

Maduro refrained from confirming or denying reports of a purported pre-Christmas CIA airstrike, which, if true, would mark the first such attack on Venezuelan soil since Trump intensified military pressure on the country in August. "This could be something we talk about in a few days," Maduro told Spanish journalist Ignacio Ramonet, while driving through Caracas in what appeared to be an effort to project calm despite the U.S. pressure.

The appeal for dialogue comes against a backdrop of strained relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, marked by U.S. sanctions and diplomatic isolation efforts aimed at ousting Maduro from power. The Trump administration has recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela, a move supported by numerous Western and Latin American countries. Maduro, however, maintains his grip on power with the backing of the Venezuelan military, as well as countries like Russia, China, and Cuba.

The situation in Venezuela has been marked by a severe economic crisis, hyperinflation, and shortages of basic goods and medicine, leading to a mass exodus of Venezuelans to neighboring countries. The U.S. has accused Maduro's government of corruption, human rights abuses, and undermining democratic institutions. Maduro, in turn, accuses the U.S. of meddling in Venezuela's internal affairs and attempting to orchestrate a coup.

The potential for direct military intervention by the U.S. in Venezuela has been a recurring concern, particularly in light of Trump administration officials publicly stating that "all options are on the table." Maduro warned of a "forever war" similar to the conflict in Iraq if the U.S. continues its current course. The call for talks represents a potential shift in strategy, or at least a public attempt to de-escalate tensions, although the likelihood of the Trump administration agreeing to serious negotiations with Maduro remains uncertain. The U.S. State Department has not yet issued an official response to Maduro's remarks.