In a surprising event, the presidents of Venezuela and the United States have spoken directly by phone. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced the call, which happened about ten days ago. He said the conversation with US President Donald Trump was respectful and friendly. This is important because the two governments have had very bad relations for a long time.
The United States does not accept Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president. Since 2019, it has supported opposition leader Juan Guaidó instead. The US has also placed strong economic sanctions on Venezuela to pressure Maduro. Recently, more US navy ships in the Caribbean Sea increased worries about a possible conflict.
Maduro talked about the call on Venezuelan state television. He said he wanted to stop media guesses and avoid public "microphone diplomacy." He prefers to deal with important matters quietly. President Trump had already confirmed the call last Sunday. Neither leader has shared details of what they discussed.
Experts are watching to see if this means relations could improve. Maduro hopes it is the start of a new period of respectful dialogue. However, the main problems are still there. The US wants a political change in Venezuela. The call might just be a short pause or a way for both sides to explore ideas. It also helps Maduro look like a serious world leader.
Simply having this conversation is a big change after years of threats. It is not clear if it will lead to real solutions. Other countries in the region will probably be happy to see any communication that lowers the risk of conflict. But without real compromises, this friendly call may just be a unusual moment, and not a true change in this difficult situation.