Erdogan urges Maduro to keep dialogue open with Washington
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan encouraged his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolás Maduro to maintain open communication with the United States during a phone call on Saturday, amid rising tensions and uncertainty over potential U.S. military actions in the Caribbean.
According to a statement released by the Turkish presidency, Erdogan stressed the importance of preserving diplomatic channels between Washington and Caracas and expressed hope that the current standoff would ease soon. He also assured Maduro that Turkey was closely monitoring regional developments and remained convinced that diplomatic engagement remained the most constructive path forward.
Venezuelan authorities reported that Erdogan voiced deep concern over what he viewed as growing threats to Venezuela’s stability, citing U.S. military deployments and a series of actions that Caracas sees as attempts to undermine regional security. Maduro, for his part, reportedly denounced these measures as illegal and disproportionate, reaffirming that his government was committed to economic recovery, peace and stability despite mounting pressure.
During the call, the two leaders also discussed the recent suspension of flights by various international airlines following a U.S. security alert linked to increased military activity near Venezuela. Both agreed on the need to restore commercial routes as quickly as possible, particularly the Caracas–Istanbul connection operated by Turkish Airlines.
The U.S. government has escalated its pressure on Venezuela through military operations in the Caribbean, airstrikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels and repeated warnings about the possibility of strikes on Venezuelan territory. Washington accuses Caracas of facilitating drug shipments to the United States, allegations the Maduro government firmly denies, arguing instead that the real objective is to provoke political change and secure control over Venezuela’s vast oil reserves.
Despite tensions, Maduro said earlier this week that he had held what he described as a “cordial” telephone exchange with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Turkey remains one of Venezuela’s closest partners, and Erdogan last visited the country in 2018 to reaffirm his support after several Western governments questioned the legitimacy of Maduro’s re-election.
Speculation has recently grown in U.S. political circles that Maduro might seek refuge in Turkey should he be forced from office — an idea publicly alluded to by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham in a recent post on X.
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