Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has said that he is willing to hold face-to-face talks with representatives of the Trump administration as US pressure on him grows.
Maduro made the comment hours after US President Donald Trump said he had not ruled out deploying ground forces to the South American country.
The Trump administration has accused Maduro - whose re-election last year was dismissed as rigged by many countries - of being the leader of a drugs cartel.
Maduro has denied the allegation and accuses the US of trying to incite a war to gain control of Venezuela's oil reserves.
Since Trump was sworn in to a second term in office in January, the US government has been increasing its pressure on Maduro.
It has doubled the reward it offers for information leading to his capture to $50m and launched a counternarcotics operation targeting boats accused of transporting drugs from Venezuela to the US.
More than 80 people have been killed in the US strikes on suspected vessels since, most of them in the Caribbean.
Trump has been repeatedly asked by journalists about his government's plan and has given seemingly contradictory answers.
Maduro's recent public statements include a direct appeal for dialogue, suggesting he is open to discussions to resolve the ongoing crisis.
Past attempts to negotiate have largely failed, showing the complexity of Venezuela's political landscape.
The future remains uncertain as observers continue to monitor the developments between these two nations.
