Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called on U.S. President Donald Trump to cease what he described as "illegal warmongering" and to engage in serious discussions with his administration, amid ongoing tensions and unconfirmed reports of a U.S. airstrike on Venezuelan soil. Maduro's appeal, made during a televised interview, comes after Trump's administration accused him of heading a narco-terrorist organization that floods the United States with drugs, a claim Maduro vehemently rejected.

The Venezuelan leader addressed the purported pre-Christmas CIA airstrike, the details of which remain unclear. While declining to confirm the attack directly, Maduro suggested the incident could be addressed in the near future. The alleged strike would mark the first instance of a direct U.S. military action on Venezuelan territory since Trump initiated a campaign of increased military pressure five months prior.

Maduro warned of a potential "forever war" reminiscent of the conflict in Iraq, should the U.S. continue its current trajectory. The relationship between the United States and Venezuela has deteriorated significantly in recent years, particularly since Maduro's disputed re-election in 2018. The U.S. has imposed sanctions on Venezuelan officials and the country's oil industry, seeking to pressure Maduro to step down and allow for free and fair elections.

The Trump administration, along with numerous other countries, recognizes opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela. Guaidó, the head of the National Assembly, invoked the constitution to declare himself acting president in January 2019, arguing that Maduro's election was fraudulent.

Venezuela is in the midst of a severe economic and humanitarian crisis, marked by hyperinflation, shortages of food and medicine, and widespread poverty. Millions of Venezuelans have fled the country in recent years, seeking refuge in neighboring nations and beyond. The Maduro government blames U.S. sanctions for the country's economic woes, while critics argue that mismanagement and corruption are the primary causes. The situation is further complicated by the involvement of various international actors, including Russia and China, which maintain close ties with the Maduro government. The call for dialogue comes as the international community continues to seek a peaceful resolution to the ongoing political and economic crisis in Venezuela.