US President Donald Trump held a phone conversation last week with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, discussing the possibility of a meeting in the United States, The New York Times reported on Friday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly participated in the call.

The reported discussion comes amid growing US pressure on Venezuela, including a significant military deployment in the Caribbean featuring the world’s largest aircraft carrier.

Washington says the deployment targets drug trafficking, but Caracas views it as an attempt at regime change.

Since early September, US forces have struck over 20 alleged Venezuelan drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, resulting in more than 80 deaths.

The US has yet to provide evidence that these vessels were actively smuggling drugs or posed a threat to national security, fueling regional tensions.

The Trump-Maduro call follows the US president’s recent statement that measures to curb Venezuelan drug trafficking by land are imminent, escalating the standoff with Caracas.

“You probably noticed that people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land,” he said in remarks to US troops, adding: “Also the land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon.”