Nicolás Maduro's wish list was ambitious. During a November 21 call with President Donald Trump, Venezuela's embattled leader laid out terms for his departure that would have essentially wiped the slate clean: lift all U.S. sanctions on him and his family, drop the International Criminal Court case, remove sanctions from over 100 officials accused of everything from corruption to drug trafficking, and let him install Vice President Delcy Rodríguez as interim leader before new elections.
Trump's response? Not happening. According to four sources who spoke with Reuters on Monday, the call lasted less than 15 minutes and ended with Trump offering something far more modest: one week of safe passage for Maduro and his family to wherever they wanted to go.
The Squeeze Tightens
That deadline came and went on Friday, and Trump promptly turned up the heat. He declared on social media that the airspace "above and around Venezuela" should be considered entirely closed, a pronouncement that sent ripples of anxiety through Caracas and left observers wondering exactly how such an order would be enforced.
The call itself came amid a months-long pressure campaign that has grown increasingly aggressive. Since early September, U.S. forces have carried out around 20 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in Caribbean and Pacific waters, operations that have killed more than 75 people. The White House frames these targets as "narco-terrorists" and defends the strikes as lawful self-defense, though legal experts and lawmakers from both parties have raised questions about whether some of these operations comply with the laws of war.
What Comes Next
On Monday, Trump gathered top advisers to discuss Venezuela strategy. The options on the table reportedly range from sustained pressure to more aggressive efforts aimed at toppling Maduro, alongside covert CIA operations.
Despite the tough talk, a U.S. source briefed on internal discussions told Reuters that officials still view a negotiated exit as possible. There are just some pretty significant gaps to bridge. The U.S. has raised its bounty for information leading to Maduro's arrest to $50 million and is offering $25 million rewards for several top aides, including Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. All of them deny the U.S. allegations of drug trafficking and other crimes.
So Maduro's options for a comfortable departure are narrowing. Washington rejected his comprehensive demands but hasn't slammed the door entirely. Whether he takes whatever deal might still be available or digs in for a longer standoff remains the central question as the pressure campaign intensifies.
