The New York Post: American officials are negotiating to transfer Maduro to Qatar
The Trump administration last month labeled Maduro and his allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization
In a report, the New York Post, citing informed sources, wrote that American officials are considering allowing Nicolás Maduro, the authoritarian socialist leader of Venezuela, to relocate to Qatar
According to this media outlet, a senior Trump administration source said that Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, proposed the idea of exiling the 63-year-old Maduro to Qatar. Three current and two former government officials have described this scenario as likely
Previously, the possibility of Maduro leaving Venezuela and residing in countries like Russia, Turkey, and even the Islamic Republic of Iran, which have close ties with this dictator, had also been proposed
Trump spoke with Maduro last week and told him to immediately step down from power, but according to reports, the pressured Venezuelan leader suggested transferring power to the Vice President and granting a general amnesty for himself, his family, and his allies
The Trump administration last month labeled Maduro and his allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization to give the United States more capability to conduct military operations inside Venezuela
Rubio also accused the Cartel of the Suns, which is said to be led by Maduro, of being responsible for terrorist violence
The White House has based the legal justification for military attacks on boats suspected of drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea on this terrorist designation
White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt also defended the legality of the attacks on these boats, which resulted in the deaths of at least 80 people, describing it as self-defense to protect Americans and the vital interests of the United States