Caracas, Dec 27 (NationPress) Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has shown readiness to engage in dialogue with the United States, emphasizing the need for mutual respect and cessation of interference from the US in Venezuelan affairs. In a televised address on Friday (local time), Maduro stated that he would welcome US dialogue if it is based on respect and if the US abandons its failed attempts to meddle in Venezuela for the past 25 years. He expressed a desire for a path toward peace, cooperation, and prosperity.

The president also condemned the US for its ongoing smear campaigns against his government, its efforts to destabilize the country, and its attempts to unseat the leadership, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.

He urged the US media to accurately depict the real situation in Venezuela after gaining a genuine understanding of the nation.

For several months, the US has been deploying significant air and naval forces in the Caribbean, just off Venezuela's coast, under the pretext of combating alleged "narco-terrorism".

Approximately 30 so-called "drug trafficking ships" have reportedly been sunk in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in over 100 fatalities.

Earlier this week, the White House directed the US military to concentrate almost entirely on enforcing a "quarantine" of Venezuelan oil for a minimum of the next two months.

"While military options still exist, the focus is to first use economic pressure by enforcing sanctions to achieve the desired outcome," a US official noted.

"The current measures have put immense pressure on (Venezuelan President Nicolas) Maduro, and there is a belief that by late January, Venezuela will confront an economic disaster unless significant concessions are made to the US," the official, who wished to remain anonymous, added.

The tanker Bella I, being pursued by US forces, has diverted from its path to Venezuela to load cargo and has retreated into the Atlantic, according to reports from US media.

US President Donald Trump recently ordered a "full and total blockade" of all sanctioned tankers entering or exiting Venezuela, labeling Maduro's government a US-designated foreign terrorist organization.

Venezuela has persistently accused Washington of attempting to orchestrate a regime change and expand military influence in Latin America, denouncing the interception of oil tankers as "piracy".

When questioned about the intent to force Maduro from power, Trump commented to reporters that it would be "smart" for Maduro to resign, adding, "If he plays tough, it'll be the last time he's ever able to play tough."

An emergency meeting of the UN Security Council was held on Tuesday regarding the situation in Venezuela, where the vast majority of members called for adherence to the UN Charter and urged restraint to prevent further escalation.