ISTANBUL: Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone on Saturday with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, urging him to maintain open channels of dialogue with the United States amid rising concerns over potential US military action. Erdogan emphasized the importance of diplomacy, expressing hope that tensions in the region would ease as soon as possible, and reaffirmed that Turkiye was closely monitoring developments. “Problems can be solved through dialogue,” he said, according to a statement from his office on X.
The call comes as Washington has intensified pressure on Caracas, deploying its largest aircraft carrier along with a fleet of warships to the Caribbean and carrying out over 20 strikes targeting boats allegedly involved in drug trafficking. At least 87 people have died in these strikes, though the US has yet to provide evidence linking the vessels to drug operations.
Venezuelan authorities described Erdogan’s message as expressing “deep concern over the threats facing Venezuela, particularly the military deployment and various actions aimed at disrupting peace and security in the Caribbean.” Maduro reportedly detailed what he described as the “illegal, disproportionate, unnecessary, and even extravagant nature of these threats.” The leaders also discussed the suspension of international flights following US President Donald Trump’s declaration last month that Venezuelan airspace should be considered “closed.”
Meanwhile, Venezuela has bolstered its military presence, swearing in 5,600 new troops as part of efforts to counter what Maduro calls a US attempt to overthrow him. The Venezuelan government claims the American naval deployment is a pretext to seize the country’s oil reserves, while the US frames it as part of anti-drug trafficking operations. Colonel Gabriel Alejandro Rendon Vilchez, speaking at the ceremony in Caracas, asserted, “Under no circumstances will we allow an invasion by an imperialist force.” Venezuela’s armed forces currently comprise around 200,000 troops, supported by an equal number of police personnel.
The phone call also comes amid political tensions within Venezuela. A former opposition governor, Alfredo Diaz, died in prison on Saturday after being held in isolation for a year on charges of terrorism and incitement. Diaz was at least the sixth opposition member to die in custody since November 2024, following last July’s disputed election, in which Maduro claimed a third term amid allegations of fraud. Rights groups report that Venezuela currently holds at least 887 political prisoners.
Turkiye maintains strong ties with Venezuela, with Erdogan visiting the country in December 2018 to show support for Maduro after Washington and several European nations rejected his re-election. Some US officials and commentators have suggested that Maduro might seek refuge in Turkiye or Iran if forced from power, highlighting the geopolitical complexities surrounding Caracas amid heightened US-Venezuela tensions.
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