Pressure builds on Biden to repay Venezuela’s goodwill moves
2 years, 9 months ago

Pressure builds on Biden to repay Venezuela’s goodwill moves

Associated Press  

MIAMI — Pressure is building on the Biden administration to begin unwinding sanctions on Venezuela after President Nicolas Maduro freed two American prisoners and promised to resume negotiations with his opponents. While the Biden administration is saying little about what was discussed behind closed doors, a smug Maduro — who has sought face-to-face talks with the U.S. for years — bragged that careful protocol was followed, with the flags of the two nations “beautifully united, as they should be.” For the past five years, the U.S. has, with little success, tried everything from punishing oil sanctions to criminal indictments and support for clandestine coups in its campaign to remove Maduro and restore what it sees as Venezuela’s stolen democracy. “The Trump-era oil sanctions currently in place have only deepened the suffering of the Venezuelan people and failed to weaken Maduro’s control of the country,” Meeks said in a statement Wednesday. Among the options available to the U.S. is allowing Chevron — the last remaining American oil company in Venezuela — to boost production and possibly resume oil exports to Gulf Coast refineries tailor made to process the country’s tar-like crude, a U.S. official said prior to the weekend’s shuttle diplomacy.

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History of this topic

Opinion: What President Biden can do to free Venezuela of Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate regime
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Opinion: What President Biden can do to free Venezuela of Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate regime

LA Times  

With flags and voting receipts in hand, thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets in Caracas and worldwide to protest Nicolás Maduro’s refusal to recognize his overwhelming defeat in the presidential election a month ago. After talks with the United States in Qatar last year, Maduro’s government promised to allow free and fair elections. “Maduro spreads them between his …

White House Walks Back Biden Comment on Venezuela Election
4 months, 1 week ago

White House Walks Back Biden Comment on Venezuela Election

Live Mint  

The White House on Thursday walked back President Joe Biden’s apparent suggestion that Venezuela hold a new election after the comment prompted questions about the US position on a July vote that it has consistently said Nicolas Maduro’s regime rigged. {{^adFree}} {{/adFree}} A spokesperson for the White House’s National Security Council said Biden intended to speak to the absurdity of …

As Maduro faces Gonzalez in Venezuela, sanctions remain a key hurdle
4 months, 4 weeks ago

As Maduro faces Gonzalez in Venezuela, sanctions remain a key hurdle

Al Jazeera  

In his tenure Maduro has seen an economic meltdown as GDP contracted 70 percent and 7.7 million Venezuelans fled in search of work. But even if Gonzalez wins,” Rodrigo acknowledged, “I’m not sure he can transform the country like Chavez did.” During his tenure, Chavez successfully used high oil prices – the lifeblood of Venezuela’s economy – to double Venezuela’s …

Venezuela’s opposition coalition welcomes President Maduro’s plan to jumpstart dialogue with the US
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Venezuela’s opposition coalition welcomes President Maduro’s plan to jumpstart dialogue with the US

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s main opposition coalition on Tuesday welcomed President Nicolas Maduro’s announcement the day before about his intentions to jumpstart negotiations with the United States this week. Maduro has held parallel talks with the Biden administration and the opposition coalition for about two years, seeking to rid Venezuela of economic sanctions that cut off the oil-dependent country from …

US reimposes oil sanctions on Venezuela as hopes for a fair presidential election fades
8 months ago

US reimposes oil sanctions on Venezuela as hopes for a fair presidential election fades

Associated Press  

MIAMI — The Biden administration on Wednesday reimposed crushing oil sanctions on Venezuela, admonishing President Nicolás Maduro’s attempts to consolidate his rule just six months after the U.S. eased restrictions in a bid to support now fading hopes for a democratic opening in the OPEC nation. “There’s no sanction, no threat, that today can damage our efforts to build a …

Venezuela accuses US of ‘blackmail’ over sanctions
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Venezuela accuses US of ‘blackmail’ over sanctions

Al Jazeera  

The US reimposed sanctions after a ban blocking the candidacy of the opposition in Venezuela’s elections was upheld. Venezuela has criticised Washington’s decision to reimpose oil and gas sanctions and warned it could halt deportation flights for Venezuelan migrants who are in the United States without documents. “If they take the wrong step of intensifying the economic aggression against Venezuela …

U.S.-Venezuela Prisoner Swap Brings 10 Americans Back To U.S. Soil
1 year ago

U.S.-Venezuela Prisoner Swap Brings 10 Americans Back To U.S. Soil

Huff Post  

MIAMI — The United States freed a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans imprisoned in the South American country and the return of a fugitive defense contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who is at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal, the Biden administration announced Wednesday. “President Biden, we won’t …

US, Venezuela swap prisoners: Maduro ally for 10 Americans, plus fugitive contractor ‘Fat Leonard’
1 year ago

US, Venezuela swap prisoners: Maduro ally for 10 Americans, plus fugitive contractor ‘Fat Leonard’

Associated Press  

MIAMI — The United States freed a close ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for the release of 10 Americans imprisoned in the South American country and the return of a fugitive defense contractor known as “Fat Leonard” who is at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal, the Biden administration announced Wednesday. “President Biden, we won’t …

US eases oil, gas and gold sanctions on Venezuela after electoral roadmap signed
1 year, 2 months ago

US eases oil, gas and gold sanctions on Venezuela after electoral roadmap signed

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In response to Venezuela’s government and a faction of its opposition formally agreeing to work together to reach a series of basic conditions for the next presidential election, the U.S. agreed Wednesday to temporarily suspend some sanctions on the country’s oil, gas and gold sectors. The U.S. Treasury issued a six-month general license that would temporarily authorize transactions …

‘Very difficult’: Challenges abound after summit on Venezuela
1 year, 7 months ago

‘Very difficult’: Challenges abound after summit on Venezuela

Al Jazeera  

Conference in Colombian capital marks positive step, analysts say, but quick fix to Venezuelan crisis unlikely. Bogota, Colombia – The conference on Venezuela’s political crisis, convened this week by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, had an ambitious goal: to relaunch stalled talks between the Venezuelan government and the opposition ahead of presidential elections next year. Maduro gov’t demands The global energy …

Venezuela opposition envoy urges Biden to ease oil sanctions
1 year, 8 months ago

Venezuela opposition envoy urges Biden to ease oil sanctions

Al Jazeera  

Fernando Blasi’s call reflects a sharp break from the opposition’s ‘maximum pressure’ campaign of the past four years. The new representative of Venezuela’s opposition in the United States is urging the Biden administration to relax crippling oil sanctions on Nicolas Maduro’s government or risk seeing the socialist-run country turn into another Cuba with Washington scapegoated for increasing authoritarianism and economic …

Venezuela’s gov, opponents resume talks; US eases sanction
2 years ago

Venezuela’s gov, opponents resume talks; US eases sanction

Associated Press  

MEXICO CITY — Venezuela’s government and its opposition on Saturday agreed to create a U.N.-managed fund to finance health, food and education programs for the poor, while the Biden administration eased some oil sanctions on the country in an effort to boost the newly restarted talks between the sides. Venezuelan resources held in the international financial system will be directed …

Biden eases Venezuela sanctions as opposition talks resume
2 years ago

Biden eases Venezuela sanctions as opposition talks resume

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Saturday eased some oil sanctions on Venezuela in an effort to support newly restarted negotiations between President Nicolás Maduro’s government and its opposition. The Treasury Department is allowing Chevron to resume “limited” energy production in Venezuela after years of sanctions that have dramatically curtailed oil and gas profits that have flowed to Maduro’s government. …

US eases Venezuela oil sanctions after gov’t, opposition ink deal
2 years ago

US eases Venezuela oil sanctions after gov’t, opposition ink deal

Al Jazeera  

The easing of sanctions comes after the Venezuelan government and the opposition signed an accord to set up a UN-mandated fund. The Biden administration on Saturday eased some oil sanctions on Venezuela after the government of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition signed a broad ‘social accord’ to create a UN-administered fund to provide humanitarian aid to the Venezuelan people. The …

Venezuela, opposition reported preparing to resume talks
2 years, 1 month ago

Venezuela, opposition reported preparing to resume talks

Associated Press  

MEXICO CITY — The Venezuelan government and the political opposition are preparing to resume talks stalled for more than a year, people familiar with the process told The Associated Press on Friday. Three people — someone close to opposition leader Juan Guaidó and two people involved in negotiation preparations — said the delegations from the two sides might meet in …

The U.S. is trying to mend ties with Venezuela. One big reason? Oil
2 years, 1 month ago

The U.S. is trying to mend ties with Venezuela. One big reason? Oil

NPR  

The U.S. is trying to mend ties with Venezuela. In response to a crackdown on democracy by Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro, Washington in 2019 placed sanctions on the country's vital oil sector. Over Thanksgiving weekend, the U.S. Treasury announced it would authorize U.S.-based Chevron to resume limited oil operations in Venezuela after the Maduro regime and the political opposition …

US could ease Venezuela sanctions, allow Chevron to pump oil: WSJ
2 years, 2 months ago

US could ease Venezuela sanctions, allow Chevron to pump oil: WSJ

Al Jazeera  

Biden administration preparing to ease sanctions if Caracas takes steps towards restoring democracy, report says. The United States is considering loosening sanctions on Venezuela so Chevron Corp can pump oil in the country if Caracas takes steps towards restoring democracy, the Wall Street Journal has reported. Under the proposed deal, the Biden administration would ease some sanctions in exchange for …

Venezuela swaps 7 jailed Americans for Maduro relatives
2 years, 2 months ago

Venezuela swaps 7 jailed Americans for Maduro relatives

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In a rare softening of hostile relations, Venezuela freed on Saturday seven imprisoned Americans in exchange for the United States releasing two nephews of President Nicolás Maduro’s wife who had been jailed for years on narcotics convictions. Referring to the men only as Venezuelans “unjustly imprisoned” in the U.S., the Maduro government in a statement said it “welcomes …

US officials back in Venezuela in a bid to rebuild ties
2 years, 5 months ago

US officials back in Venezuela in a bid to rebuild ties

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — Senior U.S. government officials have quietly traveled to Caracas in the latest bid to bring home detained Americans and rebuild relations with the South American oil giant as the war in Ukraine drags on, forcing the U.S. to recalibrate other foreign policy objectives. President Nicolás Maduro confirmed the visit during televised remarks, saying the delegation would meet …

Democratic or not, it is not America's call
2 years, 5 months ago

Democratic or not, it is not America's call

China Daily  

File photo shows the White House and a stop sign in Washington DC, the United States. In 2015, Barack Obama signed a presidential order stating that Venezuela posed an "extraordinary threat to the national security" of the US, allowing the US government to impose sanctions on Venezuela. In 2002, two months after the former CIA director George Tenet declared that …

Biden renews sanctions license for Chevron in Venezuela
2 years, 6 months ago

Biden renews sanctions license for Chevron in Venezuela

Associated Press  

MIAMI — The Biden administration has renewed a license partially exempting Chevron from sanctions on Venezuela so it can keep operating in the oil-rich, socialist-run nation. The license issued Friday by the U.S. Treasury Department allows the California-based Chevron and other U.S. companies to perform only basic upkeep of wells it operates jointly with state-run oil giant PDVSA, dashing the …

US to ease a few economic sanctions against Venezuela
2 years, 7 months ago

US to ease a few economic sanctions against Venezuela

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — The United States government is moving to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela in a gesture meant to encourage resumed negotiations between the U.S.-backed opposition and the government of President Nicolás Maduro. Maduro himself is under indictment in the United States, accused of conspiring “to flood the United States with cocaine” and use the drug trade …

Iranian oil minister meets Venezuela’s Maduro in Caracas
2 years, 7 months ago

Iranian oil minister meets Venezuela’s Maduro in Caracas

Al Jazeera  

Venezuelan leader says talks aimed at deepening ‘ties of brotherhood and cooperation in energy matters’. Iran’s oil minister has paid an official visit to ally Venezuela where he met President Nicolas Maduro and discussed ways to “overcome” the effects of sanctions imposed by the United States against both nations, according to officials. Owji’s visit to Venezuela came just weeks after …

American freed from Venezuela says his ‘nightmare’ has ended
2 years, 9 months ago

American freed from Venezuela says his ‘nightmare’ has ended

Associated Press  

MIAMI — An American oil executive freed from custody in Venezuela said that even as he celebrates with his family the end of a long “nightmare,” he’s praying for the release of five colleagues who are still imprisoned and “deserve the same blessings.” Gustavo Cardenas arrived to his home in Houston at 4 a.m. Wednesday after flying overnight from Caracas …

Possible Russia oil embargo drives US outreach to Venezuela
2 years, 9 months ago

Possible Russia oil embargo drives US outreach to Venezuela

Associated Press  

MIAMI — Senior U.S. officials secretly traveled to Venezuela over the weekend in a bid to unfreeze hostile relations with Vladimir Putin’s top ally in Latin America, a top oil exporter whose re-entry into U.S. energy markets could mitigate the fallout at the pump from a possible oil embargo on Russia. But the impetus for a risky outreach to Maduro …

Venezuela halts talks after Maduro ally’s extradition to US
3 years, 2 months ago

Venezuela halts talks after Maduro ally’s extradition to US

Associated Press  

MIAMI — Venezuela’s government said Saturday it would halt negotiations with its opponents in retaliation for the extradition to the U.S. of a close ally of President Nicolás Maduro who prosecutors believe could be the most significant witness ever about corruption in the South American country. Saab is expected to make his initial appearance in court on Monday in Miami, …

US eases crippling Venezuela sanction, allows propane deals
3 years, 5 months ago

US eases crippling Venezuela sanction, allows propane deals

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — The U.S. government on Monday moved to ease a crippling sanction imposed by the Trump administration on Venezuela by allowing companies to export propane to the troubled South American country, a step that could mitigate a shortage that has pushed people to cook on charcoal or wood grills. “The intimidation has never stopped us,” said Guaidó, who …

Venezuela’s Maduro expresses desire for foreign aid, Biden deal
3 years, 6 months ago

Venezuela’s Maduro expresses desire for foreign aid, Biden deal

Al Jazeera  

Venezuela’s president hopes a deal with the United States will open the floodgates to foreign investment, create jobs and alleviate poverty for his country, which is in the throes of a crippling economic crisis. “If Venezuela can’t produce oil and sell it, can’t produce and sell its gold, can’t produce and sell its bauxite, can’t produce iron, etcetera, and can’t …

Democrat adds pressure on Biden to review Venezuela sanction
3 years, 9 months ago

Democrat adds pressure on Biden to review Venezuela sanction

Associated Press  

MIAMI — A U.S. senator urged the Biden administration Tuesday to lift a ban on diesel fuel swaps with Venezuela, adding to pressure from some Democrats and aid workers who argue sanctions are worsening the South American country’s dire humanitarian crisis. Murphy’s request comes as the Biden administration reviews U.S. policy toward Venezuela with the goal of building a multilateral …

UN envoy draws rebuke for bid to relax Venezuela sanctions
3 years, 10 months ago

UN envoy draws rebuke for bid to relax Venezuela sanctions

Al Jazeera  

Opposition forces in Venezuela cry foul saying UN representative is falling into ‘regime propaganda’ of Nicolas Maduro. A UN envoy said US and EU sanctions on Venezuela were worsening a humanitarian crisis and recommended that the United States relax the measures, drawing criticism from the country’s opposition, who labelled it on Friday as “regime propaganda”. “We regret the rapporteur’s imprecisions …

Trump administration imposes Venezuelan oil-related sanctions
3 years, 11 months ago

Trump administration imposes Venezuelan oil-related sanctions

Al Jazeera  

The United States Treasury targeted three individuals, 14 entities and six vessels for their alleged ties to a network attempting to assist Venezuela’s oil sector. The United States on Tuesday sanctioned a network of oil trading firms, individuals and vessels that have helped Venezuelan state-run oil company Petroleos de Venezuela sell crude mainly to Asia despite Washington’s sanctions on the …

NY Democrat’s ties to Maduro may help Biden unlock stalemate
3 years, 11 months ago

NY Democrat’s ties to Maduro may help Biden unlock stalemate

Associated Press  

MIAMI — It was the aftermath of a failed coup against Hugo Chávez and Rep. Gregory Meeks was lounging at the Kennedy compound on Cape Cod with a young lawmaker from Venezuela with a bushy moustache named Nicolás Maduro. “We’d have some real hard talks about what has taken place and what must take place to undo some of the …

U.S. foreign policy under Joe Biden will not be greatly different from that of the past
3 years, 11 months ago

U.S. foreign policy under Joe Biden will not be greatly different from that of the past

The Hindu  

A few days before the presidentialelection in the United States in 2020, Joe Biden reflected on the tragedies of the Donald Trump administration. “Tragically, the one place Donald Trump has made ‘America First’,” Biden said, “is his failed response to the coronavirus: we’re 4 per cent of the world’s population yet have had 20 per cent of the deaths.” This …

Maduro hopes to resume ‘decent’ dialogue with US after Biden win
4 years, 1 month ago

Maduro hopes to resume ‘decent’ dialogue with US after Biden win

Al Jazeera  

The United States has led international pressure to force Venezuela’s socialist leader from power, backing rival Guaido and imposing sanctions. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Sunday that he would work to resume “decent, sincere” political dialogue with the United States, a country with which his government maintains tense relations, once Joe Biden assumes the presidency in January. “In time …

Venezuelan president: Key oil refinery attacked; 2 detained
4 years, 1 month ago

Venezuelan president: Key oil refinery attacked; 2 detained

Associated Press  

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said Wednesday that a large oil refinery suffered a “terrorist attack” as his government struggles to provide domestic fuel to the nation amid a historic political and economic crisis. “Venezuela is confronting a permanent conspiracy against our life, against our strategic industry, against the electricity service, the refinery, the oil industry, public services,” …

Officials: U.S. seizes Iranian gas heading for Venezuela
4 years, 4 months ago

Officials: U.S. seizes Iranian gas heading for Venezuela

Associated Press  

MIAMI — The Trump administration has seized the cargo of four tankers it was targeting for transporting Iranian fuel to Venezuela, U.S. officials said Thursday, as it steps up its campaign of maximum pressure against the two heavily sanctioned allies. Last month, federal prosecutors in Washington filed a civil forfeiture complaint alleging that the sale was arranged by a businessman, …

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