President Donald Trump confirmed during a White House press briefing that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro offered access to Venezuela’s oil, gold, and other natural resources as a means of preventing a U.S. military confrontation.

The disclosure follows a drone strike earlier this week that targeted a suspected drug-smuggling semi-submersible vessel off the coast of Venezuela, killing two crew members and detaining two survivors.

Trump described Maduro’s offer as broad and dramatic, stating “he’s offered everything” to avert retaliation.

He presented the offer as evidence of Maduro’s unwillingness to provoke the United States and a response to mounting military pressure.

According to U.S. sources, the offer was not formally accepted and remains under internal review.

The drone strike was launched on Thursday against the submersible suspected of carrying illicit narcotics.

U.S. officials say two individuals were killed in the strike and two were taken into custody.

Trump linked the operation directly to his administration’s intensified campaign against drug trafficking, which it alleges is supported by the Maduro regime.

The president further confirmed that he has authorised the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations inside Venezuela, signalling a dual approach of kinetic and intelligence tools.

He framed the actions as essential to safeguarding U.S. security interests and disrupting narco-terrorist networks.

Maduro’s government, however, denied complicity in drug trafficking and accused the United States of using force as a pretext to pursue regime change.

Venezuela has formally appealed to the United Nations Security Council to declare recent U.S. strikes illegal and to affirm Venezuela’s sovereignty.

The clash reflects escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas and highlights a volatile juncture in Americas security and diplomacy.