Trump hints at diplomatic window with Maduro but muses about hitting drug facilities in other countries

President Donald Trump has yet to make a decision on whether to attack Venezuela on land, a White House official and a senior US official said, as he hints a window may be opening for diplomacy.

Trump said Monday he would be open to speaking directly with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro at a “certain time,” suggesting he sees a pathway in the country that doesn’t involve dropping bombs or sending commandos to take Maduro out.

At the same time, Trump made clear his willingness to go after drug operations on land using military force — including, he said, in Mexico and Colombia.

“We know their address. We know their address. We know everything about every one of them,” he said of drug cartel leaders, adding he would be “proud” to strike drug facilities in other countries in his attempt to prevent the substances from reaching the United States.

“Would I launch strikes in Mexico to stop drugs?” he said. “That’s OK with me.”

As for Venezuela, Trump declined to rule out sending US troops, saying he doesn’t “rule out anything.”

But as American military forces amass in the region — including the most advanced US aircraft carrier and 15,000 personnel — Trump is hoping the pressure is enough to force Maduro to step down without taking direct military action, the US official said.

“Yeah, I probably would talk to him,” Trump said Monday when asked whether he’d speak with his Venezuelan counterpart before ordering strikes.

Maduro suggested Monday night that he would be open to dialogue with his American counterpart.

“Anyone who wants to talk to Venezuela will talk face to face,” Maduro said on state TV when asked to respond to Trump’s comments.

“We reaffirm that only through diplomacy should free countries and governments understand each other, and only through dialogue should they seek common ground on issues of mutual interest,” the Venezuelan leader said.

Potential talks between Trump and Maduro are still very preliminary, a senior White House official told CNN. Maduro and his associates have reached out through multiple channels with a desire to open a line of communication.

Even though Trump has expressed interest in he or his administration potentially holding those talks, it was not immediately clear who might be a part of those conversations. Initially, Richard Grenell, a special presidential envoy, had been leading negotiations with top Venezuelan officials before Trump instructed him to end all diplomatic outreach last month.

And Trump’s interest in potentially reopening diplomatic communications comes as the US military has continued to grow its presence near the South American country.

Trump received briefings on military options on three consecutive days last week. The options ranged in intensity, from strikes on military or government facilities to special operations raids. The option of doing nothing also still exists.

The president has, at points, voiced some reservations about taking direct military action inside Venezuela. He’s questioned the risks posed for US troops and asked about the likelihood of success.

Trump is also attuned to fresh criticism from some of his allies that his attention is overly focused abroad, rather than on domestic matters.

It wasn’t immediately clear what signals the administration had received that Maduro was prepared for a fresh round of diplomacy. Last month, amid quiet efforts at brokering an agreement with Caracas, Trump instructed his team to cut off diplomatic outreach to Maduro and top Venezuelan officials.

At the time, Trump and senior officials were frustrated Maduro wasn’t agreeing to step down voluntarily. On Monday, David Smolansky, an advisor to Venezuelan opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, told CNN’s Jim Sciutto that the mounting U.S. pressure was weakening Maduro’s hold on power.

“They are cracking. Actually, they are cracking. And there is a lot of tensions and mistrust among themselves, not only because of the operation that is in the Caribbean,” Smolansky said.

CNN’s Kristen Holmes, Katrina Samaan and Jim Sciutto contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with remarks from President Donald Trump.