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AMID a gathering of US warships in the Southern Caribbean and the US military’s sinking of four purported “drug boats” off Venezuela, comes word of US President Donald Trump halting diplomatic efforts towards Caracas.

The New York Times on October 6 published a story titled, Trump Calls Off Diplomatic Outreach to Venezuela: The move paves the way for a possible military escalation against drug traffickers or the government of Nicolás Maduro. The story was replicated by Reuters, Times of India and First Post, among others.

The NY Times said special presidential envoy Richard Grenell had led negotiations with Maduro and other top Venezuelan officials, but Trump has since ordered Grenell to stop all diplomatic outreach including his talks with Maduro.