after weeks of an escalating pressure campaign against his government. In an interview with Venezuelan state TV, Maduro said he was ready for dialogue with the US "wherever they want and whenever they want". He also evaded a question about a statement by President Donald Trump that the US had hit a docking facility in Venezuela - the first such attack inside the country reportedly carried out by the CIA. US forces have been hitting vessels they suspect of smuggling narcotics through the Caribbean and eastern Pacific for the past three months.

In total, there have been more than 30 strikes on vessels as part of the Trump administration's "war on drugs" , with more than 110 people killed since the US carried out its first attack on a boat in international waters on 2 September. The latest attack came on Wednesday when two boats alleged to be carrying drugs were struck, killing five people on board, according to the US military.

On Monday, Trump said the US had carried out a strike on a "dock area" linked to alleged Venezuelan drug boats, causing a "major explosion". The blast was caused by a drone strike carried out by the CIA, according to CNN and the New York Times, which cited sources close to the matter. If confirmed, it would be the first known US operation inside Venezuela. But Maduro was elusive in the interview. Asked if he could confirm or deny the attack, Maduro said "this could be something we talk about in a few days". As well as drug trafficking, Maduro also said he was open for talks on oil and migration.

In recent months, Trump has focused on fighting the influx of drugs - especially fentanyl and cocaine - into the US. The US president has also doubled the reward for information leading to Maduro's capture and has announced that he would designate the Maduro government as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO). (BBC)