Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has confirmed speaking with United States President Donald Trump by phone late last month amid a US military buildup that has raised fears of war.

Speaking to state-run Venezolana de Television on Wednesday, Maduro said he decided to speak about his “cordial” call with Trump about 10 days ago because international media had reported certain information and he wished to avoid “microphone diplomacy”.

“During my six years as foreign minister, I learned diplomatic prudence, and then, in these years as president, with the experience of being foreign minister and having been mentored by our Commander Chavez, I value prudence,” Maduro said, referring to the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, under whom he was foreign minister.

“I don’t like diplomacy with m

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