NYT: Trump and Maduro spoke last week

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump spoke with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last week about a possible meeting between them in the United States, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing multiple people familiar with the matter, Reuters reported.

The newspaper adds that there are no plans for such a meeting at this time, which - if it were to happen - would be the first meeting between the authoritarian leader of Venezuela and the US president.

The revelation of the phone call comes at a time when Trump continues to use belligerent rhetoric towards Venezuela, while also mentioning the possibility of diplomacy. Trump had previously hinted that he was open to talking with Maduro, although the NYT report indicates that such a conversation has already taken place.

The Trump administration has described Maduro as an illegitimate leader, who runs a drug trafficking organization known as Cartel de los Soles, which Caracas denies. Many independent experts say that although narcotrafficking and corruption in the Venezuelan government are major problems, there is little evidence of an organized group of officials that could traditionally be called a cartel.

Since the beginning of September, the US government has been attacking alleged drug ships originating from Venezuela and other Latin American countries, a practice that Democrats, scientists, and human rights experts have described as extrajudicial executions.

Trump reiterated his previous threats on Thursday to start bombing land targets.

"The country is lighter, but it will start very soon," Trump told reporters.

White House officials said Trump does not see military and diplomatic paths as mutually exclusive in Venezuela.

A large military buildup in the Caribbean has been ongoing for months, and Trump has approved secret CIA operations in the South American country. On Sunday, Reuters reported that the US is preparing to enter a new phase of operations related to Venezuela, which could include covert options. Two US officials told Reuters that the options being considered included an attempt to overthrow Maduro.

Earlier on Friday, The Washington Post reported that the US government deliberately killed survivors after bombing a drug ship near Trinidad in a so-called "double tap" strike after the head of the Pentagon, Pete Hegseth, issued a directive to "kill everyone".

The Pentagon called the article false reporting, but it could still increase concerns about the legality of US operations in the area.