Cuban Regime Rejects Approaching Trump Admin Over a Venezuela Without Maduro: 'Absurd And False'

Cuba rejected a report claiming that "elements" within the regime approached Trump administration officials to discuss what the region would look like should Nicolas Maduro relinquish power.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Cuban vice foreign minister Josefina Vidal said such conversations did not take place. "Cuba rejects as absurd and false the press reports," Vidal added, noting that the matters are "solely the responsibility of the Venezuelan Government."

The sources quoted by Reuters declined to say who from Cuba made the contact. Havana has repeatedly condemned the U.S.'s military pressure campaign against Caracas. The country issued a statement on November 25 accusing Washington D.C. of seeking regime change in the country, and called the military buildup in the region "exaggerated and aggressive."

Another recent report by The Washington Post noted that authoritarian Maduro is refusing to relinquish power in the country, confident he can wait out the pressure campaign.

Even though Maduro is increasingly fearful of an attack against him or critical infrastructure, his regime is not showing signs of collapsing, the outlet said based on interviews with people close to the regime.

In this context, both sides are seeking to find an off-ramp for the conflict, the outlet added. The phone call between Trump and Maduro was cordial, but Trump reiterated the need for Maduro to step down. There were no ultimatums and a new call is likely to take place in the future.

"Deep down, they're nervous, but they think nothing will happen," one of the officials said, claiming that they want to "see how far Trump will go."

In the meantime, however, Maduro has been sleeping in different places and changing his phone number to avoid being targeted.

Moreover, a report from the Telegraph claimed that Maduro asked to keep $200 million from his personal wealth to leave power. The outlet also noted that Maduro asked for amnesty for several officials and safe harbor in another country. Trump suggested he leave for China or Russia, while Maduro preferred to remain in the Western hemisphere.