Jailed former Venezuelan president backs new dialogue talks

A jailed former Venezuelan president has voiced support for new political talks in his country as representatives of the interim government and opposition prepare to meet in Caracas. Nicolás Maduro, who is being held in a U.S. detention center, issued a statement on Sunday calling for dialogue to achieve a "national rebirth."

The message was published on Maduro's official Telegram account from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been held since their arrest by U.S. authorities in January 2026. They face charges of drug trafficking and weapons trafficking and have pleaded not guilty. According to prison regulations, Maduro does not have direct internet access, and such political statements are conveyed through authorized communications involving his legal team and political allies.

His remarks come as a new round of U.S.-backed negotiations between Venezuela's government and opposition is set to begin. The talks formally commenced on Saturday, August 1, with initial contacts between Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez, who is the chief government negotiator, and former opposition lawmaker Dinorah Figuera. In-person...