Maduro Open To 'Managed Exit' If Trump Provides Amnesty; Putin On Standby With Military Aid

Last week, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro reached out to Russia, China and Iran for possible military aid, after US President Donald Trump mulled a military attack amid a massive buildup of American forces in the region.

"The requests to Moscow were made in the form of a letter meant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and was intended to be delivered during a visit to the Russian capital by a senior aide this month," the Washington Post (CIA) reported, adding that Maduro also sent a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping seeking "expanded military cooperation" between the two countries in order to counter "the escalation between the U.S. and Venezuela."

Now, The Atlantic (also CIA) writes that Maduro is open to a managed exit / exile, as long as Trump promises amnesty.

Maduro would be open to a managed exit if the United States provides amnesty for him and his top lieutenants, lifts its bounties, and facilitates a comfortable exile, people who have dealings with the Caracas regime say. “If there is enough pressure, and if there is enough candy in the dish,” the person who speaks to officials in both countries said, “everything is on the table with Maduro.”

Of course, one needs to view the 'managed exit' thing with a grain of salt given the source and timing of what's going on.

Of note, Trump's Venezuela envoy Richard Grenell was originally tasked with negotiating a deal with Maduro that would allow:

U.S. access to Venezuela’s oil and minerals

Crackdowns on gangs/drug transit

Release of detained Americans

Resumption of deportation flights to Venezuela

While Grenell secured early concessions, including the release of six American hostages, Trump abruptly ended Grenell's negotiations after Secretary of State Marco Rubio pushed for a more aggressive strategy.

Grenell, however, had made headway in negotiating a "managed exit" for Maduro.

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/maduro-open-managed-exit-if-trump-provides-amnesty-putin-standby-military-aid