President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, confirmed this Wednesday that a little over a week ago, he held a "cordial" dialogue with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, amid the tension generated by the military deployment off the coast of the South American country. In this regard, Maduro revealed that "About ten days ago, they called from the White House to Miraflores Palace (the government seat, in Caracas) and I had a telephone conversation with President Trump". However, he preferred to keep the details to himself: "I like prudence, I don't like microphone diplomacy. When there are important things, they have to be done in silence, until they happen." "I can say that the conversation was in a tone of respect, I can even say that it was cordial," stated the Venezuelan head of state during an event with popular communities of the Capital District, as Noticias Argentinas agency learned through Xinhua. Likewise, he reiterated that his government is open to dialogue and understanding with Washington; "If that call means that steps are being taken towards a respectful, state-to-state, country-to-country dialogue, welcome the dialogue, welcome the diplomacy, because we will always seek peace," he affirmed. Since late August, the White House has accused Venezuelan authorities of heading a supposed drug cartel and has ordered a progressive military deployment in Caribbean waters near Venezuela.
