White House rejects talks offer from Venezuela govt

The White House on Monday dismissed a request by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro for talks with counterpart Donald Trump to deescalate tensions between the two arch-foes.

- 

The brushoff came as two Venezuelan opposition leaders backed a US naval buildup near the South American country, calling it critical for the restoration of democracy.

Mr Trump has dispatched eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean in an anti-drug operation Venezuela fears could be the preamble to an invasion.

US forces have destroyed at least three suspected Venezuelan drug boats in recent weeks, killing over a dozen people.

On Sunday, the Venezuelan government released a letter that leftist Maduro had sent to Mr Trump.

In the missive, Mr Maduro — whose July 2024 reelection was rejected as fraudulent by Venezuela's opposition and much of the international community — rejected as “absolutely false” US allegations that he leads a drug cartel and urged Mr Trump to “keep the peace.”