"Reuters": Nicolás told Trump he was ready to leave the country in exchange for a full pardon for him and his family members
Summary Maduro's statements coincide with a meeting held by US President Donald Trump with the National Security Council to discuss the situation in Venezuela.
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said he rejects the "peace of slaves," indicating that the American deployment in the Caribbean region has put the country "to the test" for 22 weeks.
During a rally attended by thousands of his supporters in Caracas yesterday, Monday, Maduro stated, "We want peace, but we want peace with sovereignty, equality, and freedom. We do not want the peace of slaves, nor the peace of colonialism."
Maduro, speaking surrounded by senior officials outside the presidential palace, affirmed that he swears "absolute loyalty" to the Venezuelan people, amid rising tensions with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
These statements coincide with a meeting held by Trump with the National Security Council to discuss the situation in Venezuela. Washington claims it is fighting drug gangs and, to this end, has deployed military forces in the Caribbean Sea region since last August, including the world's largest aircraft carrier.
Tension between the two countries has escalated due to Trump's repeated threats to expand military operations to include the mainland and the ongoing process, for months, of designating the group "De los Soles," which the White House claims includes Maduro, as a foreign terrorist organization. Maduro denies any criminal activities.
Maduro explained, referencing his predecessor Hugo Chávez, "Be certain that just as I swore before the body of our commander Chávez before bidding him farewell, with absolute loyalty at the cost of my life and tranquility, I swear to you absolute loyalty... Be sure that I will never let you down."
Trump confirmed the day before yesterday, Sunday, that he had a phone call with Maduro, but he did not elaborate on what the two leaders discussed. When asked if he had spoken with Maduro, the US President said, "I don't want to comment on it. The answer is yes." He was speaking to reporters aboard the presidential plane.
At the same time, the US President rejected interpreting his warning to Venezuela as a threat of an imminent air strike, saying, "Don't draw any conclusions... I don't want to comment on the possibility of a strike on Venezuela."
The New York Times previously revealed that Trump and Maduro recently discussed the possibility of holding a meeting in the United States over the phone.
The United States offered Maduro "to leave for Russia" or another country, according to Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin two days ago. The Oklahoma Senator told CNN, "By the way, we gave Maduro an opportunity to leave. We told him he could leave for Russia or another country." He added, "The Venezuelan people have also said they want a new leader and want Venezuela restored as a nation."
Rejected Offer
Four informed sources told "Reuters" that US President Donald Trump rejected a series of requests from his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro during a brief phone call last November, which diminished the options available to the Venezuelan leader to step down and leave his country via a safe passage guaranteed by the United States.
Three of the sources stated that Maduro told Trump during the call that he was ready to leave Venezuela provided that he and his family members received a full pardon, including the lifting of all US sanctions and the termination of a major case he faces before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The sources clarified that Maduro also requested the lifting of sanctions on more than 100 Venezuelan government officials, many of whom the United States accuses of human rights violations, drug trafficking, or corruption.
Two sources said Maduro also requested that his Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, lead a transitional government before new elections are held.
However, Trump rejected most of his requests in the call, which lasted less than 15 minutes, but he told Maduro that he had one week to leave Venezuela for a destination of his choice with his family members.
Two sources said that this safe passage ended last Friday, which prompted Trump to announce the closure of Venezuelan airspace last Saturday.
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