WASHINGTON — US officials are discussing allowing Venezuela’s socialist strongman Nicolas Maduro to live out his days in luxury in one of the world’s richest countries, The Post has learned — as President Trump’s bombing campaign against alleged drug boats could soon hit closer to South America’s shore.
A senior Trump administration source said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has floated allowing Maduro, 63, to relocate to Qatar as the gas-rich emirate helps mediate the conflict.
Three current and two former administration officials described the scenario as plausible.
“Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE love to do stuff like this. It helps build chits with the US,” said a source close to the administration.
“All three compete against each other — in the region and for the ultimate affection of the US.”
A source familiar with Qatar’s role in Venezuela talks insisted, however, that Maduro is not mansion shopping in Doha, whose royal rulers previously helped broker a Trump-proposed peace plan between Israel and Hamas. Qatar also was housing senior Hamas leaders, prompting Israel to carry out airstrikes in Doha in September in an attempt to take them out.
“It is untrue that Maduro is fleeing to Qatar,” this person said.
Trump spoke with Maduro last week and told him to step down immediately, with the beleaguered leader reportedly counter-proposing a hand-off to his vice president and broad amnesty for himself and allies.
The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
The Trump administration last month designated Maduro and his government allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization, a move designed to give the US expanded military options for striking inside Venezuela. Rubio accused Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, of being “responsible for terrorist violence.”
The White House cited the terrorist designation to justify the military assaults on suspected narco-terrorist boats in the Caribbean, including a double strike on Sept. 2 that killed survivors. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the legality of the ongoing boat attacks on alleged drug smugglers that have killed at least 80 people, also citing “self-defense to protect Americans and vital United States interests.”
Trump on Monday afternoon met with Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other senior officials to discuss the next moves against Maduro.
US officials are currently gathering intelligence to inform recommendations on what to do next — with a decision likely later this week or early next.
One next step under consideration is striking alleged drug dealers within Venezuela’s territorial waters, which are defined as 12 nautical miles offshore. Doing so, however, would increase political pressure on Trump to obtain approval from Congress to go to war, as bipartisan lawmakers have already scoffed at the boat attacks without their votes.
Trump said on Oct. 23 that he was preparing to inform Congress of his plan to pursue land attacks inside Venezuela, but has held back as he attempts to negotiate the resignation and exile of Maduro.
During a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Trump threatened to order strikes on land-based Venezuelan drug traffickers — and added that Colombian operators also are at risk.
“Anybody that’s doing that and selling it into our country is subject to attack,” Trump said. “No, not just Venezuela.”
