Biden’s dangerous oil diplomacy

How far can you go to contain rising gasoline prices? Joe Biden has engaged in dangerous oil diplomacy to make up for the loss of Russian crude, exposing himself to charges of turning to “dictators” and undermining his own “battle” for democracy.

The high-level delegation that traveled to Caracas tried to go as unnoticed as possible, in the midst of the war unleashed by Russia on Ukraine.

And for good reason: US government emissaries were coming to meet with the illegitimate Venezuelan president, Nicholas Maduroan enemy of United Stateswho considers his re-election fraudulent.

But the information has been leaked and the Biden administration was forced to explain.

Washington could boast of a success, as Caracas released on Tuesday two of the eight Americans detained in Venezuelabut he had to admit that the trip had an added reason.

With the rise in oil prices caused by the war in Ukraine and the US decision to ban the import of Russian oil and gas, it is urgent to find other sources of supply.

“We go around the world” for “try to increase the volume of oil in the market” and stabilize prices, number three at the US State Department, Victoria Nuland, said on Tuesday.

there is only one “handful of countries in the world” that produces the “fuel” that the US economy imports from Russia, and “We must search everywhere”he affirmed, without ruling out that Washington could buy Venezuelan crude.

Maduro’s “piggy bank”

A striking change considering that Venezuela has been under a US oil embargo since 2019 and is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the short term, nothing says that this visit will change the situation. The embargo remains in force and has “structurally damaged” to the Venezuelan oil industry, says former US diplomat Aaron David Miller.

“Maduro explores the idea” of reciprocal concessions, which “It does not mean that he abandons Putin”adds Mariano de Alba, from the conflict prevention organization International Crisis Group (ICG)who mentions a process “length” and “uncertain” and “very risky”.

In any case, a shower of criticism fell on the Biden administration.

During a hearing in the US Congress attended by Victoria Nuland, the Republicans did not skimp on criticism and the Democrats did not come to her aid.

For conservative senator Marco Rubio, buying Venezuelan oil would have “negligible impact” but I would enter “millions of dollars in the piggy bank” of Nicolas Maduro.

“The democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people, as well as the determination and courage of the people of Ukraine, are worth more than about 1,000 barrels of oil”affirmed his influential Democratic colleague Bob Menéndez.

Aaron David Miller believes that if the US government took the risk of this protest it is because it wants to “explore all the possibilities”.

Biden seeks “a balance between national interests and its narrower political interests”adds the expert from the think tank Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

And it is “hard”because it is necessary to preserve “American values” while limiting the increase in inflation that risks “costing the president dearly” in the mid-term legislative elections in November.

“Human rights”

It is especially sensitive because Biden has promised to center his foreign policy on human rights and claims to be fighting a battle between democracies and autocracies.

His Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, also said Wednesday that the United States could “guarantee the stability of the world energy supply” without giving up “human rights”.

The relationship with Venezuela is not the only one that is under scrutiny.

“It is imperative not to replace Russian heavy crude with the production of dictators in Iran and Venezuela”said Republican Senator Jim Risch, referring to contentious negotiations to salvage the Iranian nuclear deal.

Above all, because the US government is on the defensive in its relationship with the Gulf monarchies.

The White House on Wednesday denied a report in the Wall Street Journal that the crown princes of Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabii refused to speak on the phone with the president of the united states.

The Axios news portal raises the possibility of a Biden trip to Riyadh in the spring to try to convince the kingdom to pump more oil.

“At a minimum, you will have to agree to talk to MBS,” Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, says Aaron David Miller, while the White House tenant has so far refused to relate to whom he accuses of ordering the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

This time, the criticism is coming from the left wing of the presidential field.

“Our response to Putin’s immoral war should not be to strengthen our relationship with the Saudis”progressive congresswoman Ilhan Omar protested on Twitter.