The Venezuelan leader hoped the phone call marked the beginning of a ‘respectful dialogue’ between Washington and Caracas.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has confirmed in a phone call with United States President Donald Trump late last month that the US military build-up has fueled fears of war.
Speaking to state-run Venezolana de television on Wednesday, Maduro said he decided to talk about his “gentle” call with Trump 10 days ago because the international media had given some information and he wanted to avoid “microphone diplomacy”.
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“During my six years as foreign minister, I learned diplomatic prudence, and then, in these years as president, through the experience of being foreign minister and the guidance of our commander Chávez, I value prudence,” said Maduro, referring to the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chávez, under whom he was foreign minister.
“I don’t like diplomacy with a microphone; when there are important matters, they should be dealt with quietly until they are resolved!”
Maduro said the call was a step toward “respectful dialogue” and welcomed the possibility that his country would always seek peace.
Maduro said he would not comment further on his conversation with Trump because he favored “understanding” and “respect”.
“By the grace of God and our Commander in Chief, our Lord Jesus Christ, all will be well for the peace, freedom, honor and future of Venezuela,” he said.
Maduro’s comments came after Trump said he had spoken by phone with the Venezuelan leader on Sunday amid the most serious diplomatic crisis in years between Washington and Caracas.
Trump again on Wednesday addressed his call with Maduro without providing details of their conversation.
“I talked to him briefly, just told him a couple of things, and we’ll see what happens with him,” Trump said at a press conference at the White House.
“Venezuela sends us drugs, but Venezuela sends us people they shouldn’t.”
Trump has deployed the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, shot down alleged drug-trafficking ships traveling through Venezuela and other Latin American countries, and threatened to attack Venezuelan soil as part of an escalating pressure campaign against Maduro.
The Trump administration has launched its military campaign to crack down on drug trafficking.
Venezuela accounts for a small amount of the global supply of cocaine, but served as a transit point for 10-13 percent of the estimated production in 2020, according to US government estimates.
Maduro has accused Trump of using an anti-narcotics campaign to topple his government and seize Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
In a scathing speech to a rally in Caracas on Monday, Maduro said his country wanted peace, but only with “sovereignty, equality and freedom” attached.
“We want no slave peace, nor colonial peace! Colonies, never! Slaves, never!” he said