Recent reports from the New York Times reveal that President Donald Trump engaged in a conversation with Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro last week. The discussion reportedly touched on the possibility of a future meeting in the United States, as shared by several sources familiar with the situation.

According to the newspaper, no concrete plans have been set for such a meeting. If it were to happen, it would mark the first face-to-face interaction between the authoritarian Venezuelan president and a sitting US leader.

This disclosure of the phone call surfaces amidst Trump’s ongoing strong rhetoric against Venezuela, paired with a willingness to explore diplomatic avenues.

Trump has previously expressed his openness to dialogue with Maduro, and the Times’ findings suggest that a direct conversation has already occurred.

The Trump administration has consistently labeled Maduro as an illegitimate head of state, accusing him of heading a drug trafficking network known as the Cartel de los Soles, a claim that the Venezuelan government has consistently refuted.

Many independent experts say that while narco-corruption in the Venezuelan government is a major issue, there is little proof of an organized grouping of officials that could be traditionally called a cartel.

Since early September, the US government has been bombing alleged drug boats originating in Venezuela and other Latin American nations, a practice that Democrats, scholars and human rights experts have described as extrajudicial executions.

On Thursday, Trump repeated his previous threats to begin bombing land-based targets.

“The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon,” Trump told reporters.

Neither the White House nor the Venezuelan communications ministry, which handles all press requests for the government, responded to requests for comments.

White House officials have said that Trump does not see pursuing military and diplomatic tracks as mutually exclusive in Venezuela.

A major military buildup in the Caribbean has been underway for months, and Trump has authorized covert CIA operations in the South American nation.

On Sunday, Reuters reported that the US was about to enter a new phase of Venezuela-related operations, which could include the deployment of covert options.

Two US officials told Reuters the options under consideration included attempting to overthrow Maduro.

Earlier on Friday, The Washington Post reported that the US government deliberately killed survivors after bombing a drug boat near Trinidad in a so-called “double tap” strike after Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth gave a directive to “kill everybody.”

The Pentagon called the article misleading, but it could nevertheless intensify concerns about the legality of US operations in the area.