Venezuela VP denies alleged talks with United States on removing Maduro

Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday denied a report that she had negotiated with the United States to oust President Nicolás Maduro. 

The Miami Herald newspaper reported that Rodriguez and her brother Jorge, the president of the National Assembly, attempted to present themselves to Washington as a "more acceptable" alternative to  Maduro.

Writing on Telegram, Rodríguez said: "FAKE!! Another media outlet adding to the filth of psychological warfare against the Venezuelan people." 

"They have no ethics or morals," she wrote.

She later shared a photo of herself with Maduro, captioned: "Together and united with President Maduro." 

The United States charges Maduro, who is accused of stealing elections last year, of heading a drug cartel.

US President Donald Trump has deployed warships to the Caribbean as part of what he has described as an anti-drug trafficking operation.

The US forces have blown up at least five suspected drug boats in the Caribbean since early September, leaving 27 people dead. 

In a significant escalation, Trump indicated Wednesday he had authorised covert CIA operations against Venezuela and was considering attacks on land against alleged drug cartels in the country.

According to the Miami Herald, the Rodríguez siblings pitched themselves as the "more palatable" version of chavismo – the socialist ideology of late firebrand president Hugo Chavez and his chosen successor Maduro.

The Herald reported that the pair presented Washington with two proposals conveyed by intermediaries in Qatar, a country that has previously mediated between the United States and Venezuela on prisoner exchanges. 

It said the offers were made with Maduro's approval and involved an exiled retired general leading a transitional government.

Troops deployed

Venezuela deployed thousands of troops near the Colombian border Thursday in response to the US military build0up in the Caribbean, while US media reported a new strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat.

The United States has sent several military vessels to the Caribbean Sea and launched a series of deadly naval strikes on boats in recent weeks, a campaign that experts say is illegal.

At least 27 people have been killed in the US strikes so far, with the military buildup sparking fears in Caracas that the ultimate goal is a change of government in Venezuela. 

Caracas has launched military drills, including the deployment of 17,000 troops in Tachira state, which borders Colombia, according to the commander there, General Michell Valladares.

While Trump weighs whether to expand US military action from the sea onto land, the admiral overseeing the naval strikes announced he will step down. 

Admiral Alvin Holsey announced he would leave his position as head of US forces operating in Central and South America.

The head of US Southern Command gave no reason for retiring just a year into his tenure, which follows multiple top US military officers being dismissed in recent months.

The latest boat attack on Thursday left survivors among those on board, media outlets including CBS, CNN and NBC reported, citing unidentified US officials.

The Pentagon did not respond immediately to an AFP request for information about the number of survivors or their condition.

Covert action

Trump indicated on Wednesday he had authorised covert CIA action against Venezuela and was considering further action against the alleged drug-cartels.

"We are certainly looking at land now, because we've got the sea very well under control," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Maduro has decried any attempt by Washington at "regime change" and criticised "coups d'état orchestrated by the CIA."

Under Maduro's direction, the Venezuelan military carried out exercises in the country's biggest shantytowns this week after another US strike.

AFP journalists saw troops deployed on Thursday in Tachira, where the three main bridges connecting Venezuela with Colombia are located.

Venezuelan forces were also stationed in southern Amazonas state, which borders Colombia and Brazil, and multiple coastal areas. 

Trinidad and Tobago, located off the coast of Venezuela, is investigating whether two of those killed in US strikes at sea were its citizens, officials said on Wednesday.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro recently called on the United Nations to open a "criminal process" against Trump for the attacks, which he believes have also killed Colombians.

Washington has not released evidence to support its assertion that the targets of its strikes are drug-smugglers, and experts say the summary killings are illegal even if they hit confirmed narcotics traffickers.

– TIMES/AFP