White House Rejects Maduro Letter Amid Rising US-Venezuela Tensions

Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have escalated sharply as the White House dismissed a letter from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to President Donald Trump, calling it "full of lies" and reaffirming that Maduro's government is illegitimate. President Trump has deployed eight warships and a submarine to the southern Caribbean in an anti-drug operation, which has resulted in the destruction of several vessels and the deaths of over a dozen suspected narcotraffickers. Maduro rejected U.S. allegations of drug trafficking, attributing the true drug epidemic to Colombia, and expressed willingness for direct diplomatic talks, proposing Trump's envoy Richard Grenell as a mediator. The U.S. administration, however, maintains its position and is prepared to use all necessary means to stop the flow of drugs from Venezuela into the United States. The military presence in the Caribbean has increased, with the U.S. citing efforts to combat the "Cartel of the Suns," which it claims is linked to the Maduro regime. Inside Venezuela, the situation remains volatile, with thousands joining militias supporting Maduro, even as some opposition leaders welcome U.S. actions, signaling deep political and military tensions.