(Mexico City) The United States announced on Saturday an easing of the oil embargo against Venezuela against a background of Russian isolation, immediately after the announcement of the signing of an agreement between the power of Nicolas Maduro and the opposition to Mexico City.
The US government has allowed oil giant Chevron to partially resume its oil extraction activities in Venezuela just after the announcement of a “second partial social protection agreement for the Venezuelan people”.
According to the Treasury Department, Chevron can partially revive the activities of its joint venture in Venezuela in partnership with the public company Petroleos de Venezuela (PdVSA). Chevron must, however, ensure that “PdVSA does not receive any revenue from oil sales made by Chevron”.
In May, Washington had already allowed Chevron to “negotiate the terms of potential future activities in Venezuela”, which represented a first breach of the Venezuelan oil embargo imposed by Washington in 2019 in the hope of ousting Nicolas Maduro .
The United States is seeking new hydrocarbon resources to offset the loss of Russian crude oil following sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Venezuela would have the largest reserves in the world, according to some experts.
On Saturday, a senior US official called the deal “an important step in the right direction”. “We join the international community in welcoming the resumption of negotiations,” he said, requesting anonymity.
Norway played the role of facilitator of the inter-Venezuelan dialogue, also encouraged by France. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares also proposed on Saturday that Madrid play a role “if the Venezuelans want it”.
No consensus on elections
This dialogue represents “hope for all of Latin America” and “the triumph of politics”, welcomed Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard.
At the same time as the talks in Mexico City, Caracas has been hosting since Monday the resumption of negotiations between the Colombian government and the ELN (National Liberation Army), considered the last active guerrilla in Colombia.
In Mexico City, representatives of President Nicolas Maduro announced the deal at midday after talks resumed after 15 months of stalled talks.
President Maduro demands the lifting of the American economic sanctions which hit his country, in particular the embargo on oil exports.
PHOTO HENRY ROMERO, REUTERS
Nicolas Maduro Guerra, son of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, was present when the agreement was signed.
For its part, the Venezuelan opposition is calling for solutions to the “humanitarian crisis”, “respect for human rights”, and guarantees for “free and observable elections”, a statement from the United Platform said on Thursday.
There is no consensus on these elections, which should take place in 2024, according to a source familiar with the matter consulted by AFP on Thursday.
The opposition accuses Mr Maduro of being re-elected in 2018 fraudulently.
Poverty affects eight out of ten people in Venezuela, according to the national Encovi survey on living conditions published earlier this month.
Seven million Venezuelans have left their country due to the political and economic crisis, especially since the death of former President Hugo Chavez in 2013.
The dialogue opened in August 2021 in Mexico City, after attempts that came to an end in 2018 and 2019.
Nicolas Maduro suspended the talks two months later, after the extradition to the United States of Alex Saab, a Venezuelan businessman close to the power prosecuted for money laundering.