Since the dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro He was entrenched in power in CaracasThe relationship between USA and Venezuela It has been one of the most conflictive in the Western hemisphere, characterized by economic sanctions, coup conspiracy accusations and the rupture of diplomatic relations since 2019.
With the return of Donald Trump To the US presidency, the approach to the Chavista regime It promises to be a central issue in its foreign policy. During his first term, Trump implemented a “maximum pressure” strategy that included sanctions against the oil industry and senior Venezuelan officials, in addition to Recognize the opposition as the legitimate representative of the country.
In this new period, Trump has reiterated his critical position towards Maduro, describing him as a dictator and suggesting possible additional measures, such as the suspension of purchases of Venezuelan oil. These statements occur in a context where the administration of the former president Joe Biden He had already hardened the sanctions after accusing Maduro of breaking electoral commitments. For his part, the Venezuelan president has rejected these actions, qualifying them as illegitimate and denouncing an “economic war” aimed at paralyzing the country.
Among the key figures in Trump’s management towards Venezuela, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubioknown critic of Chavismo, and Richard Grenelldesignated special envoy, who have assumed a firm posture in front of Maduro. Both must decide on licenses granted to companies such as Chevronwhich still operate in Venezuela, and strengthening the support of the opposition, led by Edmundo Gonzálezrecognized by Washington and the European Parliament as the winner of the latest Venezuelan presidential elections.
Trump, who has expressed “Great interest” in the Venezuelan situationface the challenge of defining whether the policy of embargoes and sanctions of its first mandate will continue or will explore new strategies to press Maduro and facilitate a political change in the South American country.
The Trump administration is reviewing a license that has allowed the American oil company Chevron expand oil operations in Venezuela To recover pending debt in the country, agency sources said Reuters.
Chevron’s license represents a constant source of income for the administration of Ripe Since the beginning of 2023. Money has promoted the economy of Venezuela, especially its oil, banking and industrial sectors.
“The United States does not need imports of Venezuelan oil,” Trump saidwhile Rubio told the Senate that Chevron’s license needed to be “re -explorate.” However, it is not clear that it is a priority of all officials with an opinion on the matter. It must also be considered that some European companies that received similar US authorizations, including the Spanish Repsol and the French Maurel & Promthey could also see their licenses modified or canceled, which would leave them less margin to negotiate oil cargoers with the state PDVSA.
Washington He has said for a long time that he supports the democratic elections – verified by observers – in Venezuelaand the administration Biden rejected the results announced by the Chavista Electoral Council of the July 2024 vote, recognizing the opponent González as elected president.
Since then, Venezuelan opposition leaders have been pushing so that US officials increase pressure on Ripe so that there is a political transition.
The opposition leader, María Corina Machado And González spoke with Rubio last week, and Rubio called González “The legitimate president of Venezuela”. Maduro, whom both the electoral authority and the highest court of Venezuela They gave him the victory in the elections, he has made fun of the concern of USA and other countries.
It is not the first time that the United States has doubted the legitimacy of a re -election of Maduro. Reuters reported in 2020 that Grenell met secretly, without any results, with a representative of Ripe To negotiate the departure of the Venezuelan leader of power after its 2018 re -election, also considered as a farce by most Western countries.
Trump has initiated a wide offensive against immigration, promising mass deportations. It is expected that among the deportees there is Venezuelanswho have abandoned their country by millions, although it is not clear where they could be sent if Venezuela He does not accept them.
“I will expel from the United States to the members of the Trena de Aragua gang,” Trump promised, while the Venezuelan attorney general, Tarek Saabhe said last week that his country definitely destroyed the gang in 2023. SAAB added that his office is willing to resume legal cooperation with the United States for extradite Venezuelan members of the gang.
It is not clear exactly how many Americans or citizens with dual nationality are arrested for Venezuelabut Venezuelan officials have publicly talked about at least nine Americans and 150 “mercenaries” of 25 nationalities, but have not given details.
At the end of 2023, the Venezuelan government released dozens of prisoners, including 10 Americans, after months of negotiations, while USA He released Maduro’s testaferro, Alex Saab.
Citgo
It is planned to reorganize an auction of actions of the matrix of Citgo Petroleum PDVSAC.ul to pay about $ 21,000 million in claims for debt tax and expropriations of Venezuela and PDVSAafter a sales process that lasted a year failed.
A federal court of USA in Delaware is auctioning the actions of PDV Holdingan American subsidiary of PDVSA and the only indirect shareholder of Citgo. The Venezuelan government has characterized the auction as a theft of national assets, while the Venezuelan opposition wants me to The dispute is resolved according to your country’s law. The final sales agreement must be approved by the United States Treasury.
