Roger Carstens, the former US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, said during an interview on “60 Minutes” that he does not personally see Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro as a ruthless criminal or drug boss. Carstens, who worked under both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, said his job was to bring detained Americans home. To do that, he built a direct working relationship with Maduro. From what he saw, Maduro acted practical during negotiations rather than violent or extreme.
Carstens Shares His Experience With Maduro
Carstens said he was not surprised when he heard about Maduro’s capture by the US military. He explained that a president is still responsible for actions inside their government, but he did not witness Maduro behaving like a bloodthirsty figure in his own talks with him.
Focus On Hostage Releases
Carstens said creating a human style relationship helped secure the release of detained Americans. He described Maduro as someone who tried to discuss solutions to the problems facing Venezuela during their meetings.
Not Convinced Maduro Was A Drug Kingpin
Carstens also said he would not personally label Maduro a drug trafficker based only on what he saw while in office. He admitted there may be classified details he never viewed. Still, from his own experience, he did not see Maduro as a hardened figure in the drug trade.
US Strikes And Control Claim
The US confirmed military strikes in Venezuela and the capture of Maduro. President Donald Trump has said the US will run the country until a new leader replaces him.
