Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has urged his Venezuelan counterpart to keep communication channels with Washington open amid rising regional tensions.
ISTANBUL: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro to maintain dialogue with the United States during a phone call on Saturday.
Erdogan’s office stated it was “important to keep channels of dialogue open between the US and Venezuela”.
The Turkish leader expressed hope that “the tension will ease as soon as possible”.
He added that Turkey was closely following developments and believed “problems can be solved through dialogue”.
The call comes amid a major US military build-up in the Caribbean targeting alleged drug trafficking.
Washington has conducted more than 20 strikes on boats, causing at least 87 deaths, though it has not provided evidence linking them to trafficking.
Last month, the US sent the world’s largest aircraft carrier to the region and declared Venezuelan airspace “completely closed”.
US President Donald Trump has accused Maduro of leading a drug cartel, a claim Venezuela denies.
Maduro revealed on Wednesday he had a “cordial” phone call with Trump 10 days earlier, during the military build-up.
Trump confirmed the conversation on Sunday without providing details.
Turkey maintains strong ties with Venezuela, with Erdogan last visiting in December 2018 to offer support after Western nations disavowed Maduro’s re-election.
Various reports have suggested Maduro could seek refuge in Turkey if forced out.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X last week, “I hear Turkey and Iran are lovely this time of year,” in a suggestion the Venezuelan leader should flee.
