John Otis

He said the two countries should engage in, quote, serious talks about fighting drug trafficking and said U.S.

companies could return to Venezuela to produce oil.

Here in Venezuela, you have a brother country of the United States, Maduro said.

Here, you have a government that is a friend.

For NPR News, I'm John Otis.

In recent months, the U.S.

has sent warships to the Caribbean Sea, blown up alleged drug trafficking boats from Venezuela, and has tried to block Venezuelan tankers from exporting oil.

All this is part of a campaign by the Trump administration to remove Maduro from power.

But in an interview broadcast on Venezuelan state TV, Maduro called for a fresh start.

He said the two countries should engage in, quote, serious talks about fighting drug trafficking and said U.S.

companies could return to Venezuela to produce oil.

Here in Venezuela, you have a brother country of the United States, Maduro said.

Here, you have a government that is a friend.

For NPR News, I'm John Otis.

U.S.

forces have destroyed more than 20 alleged drug boats, killing more than 80 people.

But the Washington Post reported that following one of the first strikes back in September, there were initially two survivors clinging to the boat wreckage.

According to the Post, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had given an order to kill everyone aboard alleged drug boats, and that this order led to a second strike in which those survivors were killed.

U.S.

forces have destroyed more than 20 alleged drug boats, killing more than 80 people.