Trump-Maduro Argue, Qatar Proposes To Become US-Venezuela Mediator

US President Donald Trump/PHOTO via Instagram @realdonaldtrump

JAKARTA - Qatar has volunteered to become a mediator for the normalization of relations between the United States and Venezuela which is heating up.

This was reported by the New York Times newspaper on Thursday, October 9 citing sources familiar with the matter.

Qatar seeks to mediate the conflict between the US and Venezuela, amid US President Donald Trump's efforts to build military power in the Caribbean and launch attacks on civilian ships, the report said.

The government of Venezuela and President Nicolas Maduro support Qatar's efforts, while the Trump administration has shown no interest in the initiative, the report added, citing sources again.

Reported by ANTARA, according to the New York Times, Qatar is trying to keep communication channels open between the US and Venezuela, an unnamed official told the newspaper.

Qatar, saat ini, telah menjadi mediator dalam 12 dialog diplomatik internasional yang berbeda, termasuk beberapa yang melibatkan AS dan negara-negara lain, tambahnya.

Earlier on Wednesday (8/10), Venezuela launched a comprehensive military exercise involving military and civilian personnel due to tensions with the US over the deployment of US warships off the coast of the South American country which continues to rise.

On Monday (6/10), the New York Times newspaper reported Trump had recently ordered a special envoy, Richard Grenell, to stop diplomatic contact with President Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials, which has been ongoing since February.

White House spokesman Krypto Leavitt said Trump was ready to use "any element of American force" to fight drug trafficking, without neglecting possible military operations in Venezuela.

The statement was made following a Washington report deploying more than 4,000 marine and sailors, as well as several military vessels to the waters off Latin America and the Caribbean, under the pretext of fighting drug cartels.