Last week, however, signs emerged that the relationship might be blossoming, or at least being planted. the seed of cooperationafter the first high-level talks between US and Venezuelan officials in years.
It is a new direction for both countries. In recent years, Washington has imposed sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector over President Nicolás Maduro’s poor democratic and human rights record.
For the head of Maduro himself, a $15 million reward (11 million euros), after being accused in the United States of charges that include drug terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption.
President Maduro, in turn, accuses the United States of colonialism and harassment, and of trying to get involved, without reason, in the internal affairs of Venezuela.
mutual benefits
It’s an awkward approach. These are desperate times and they are needed Desperate measures.
Oil helps the world run and Venezuela has a lot of it. When the world is in crisis, as with a ban on Russian oil exports causing prices to spike, leaders begin to revisit uneasy friendships.
“In Venezuela, it’s all about the oil”, says political historian Margarita López Maya. “One of the first steps the United States took in World War II was to bring a good ambassador [a Venezuela] to provide support to the government and secure that oil.”
There is no doubt that a better relationship would also benefit Venezuela. Maduro wants that sanctions are lifted. Last week the president, a man normally quick to criticize America, offered an olive branch on state television.
Wave the flags of friendship
“There were the two flags of the United States and Venezuela, they looked very nice, the two united as they should be,” President Maduro said of the meeting in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, last weekend.
“A new opportunity has opened. We had a respectful, cordial and very diplomatic meeting. It’s time to diplomacy, truth and peace”.
In fact, Maduro also said that he was ready to return to the talks with the opposition of Venezuela, organized in Mexico. And just days after the meeting with the United States, Venezuela released two imprisoned US citizens.
Very positive so far, but where will this thawing of relations lead?
“In the United States, for some time now, internal forces have been saying that the oil sanctions strategy did not make much sense after so long and its objective was not working,” says Luis Vicente León, director of the Datanalisis consultancy, with headquarters in Caracas.
“When the conflict with Ukraine began, it became clear that a policy of oil sanctions put them in a bind.”
Doubts cloud hope in the streets of Caracas
Many see these conversations as a marriage of convenience. But it’s early days and it’s still a tumultuous relationship.
“Both sides are hypocrites, I don’t believe anyone,” says María Eugenia Farina, owner of a store in Caracas. He is a shared feeling for so many in Venezuela who have given up that politicians of any origin can get the country out of its crisis.
Others, however, are more willing to give these talks a try.
“Do I see it as something positive? Yes, because Venezuela can go bankrupt, someone has to give in,” says Ana Pérez, from Caracas. “We are weak. If they lift the sanctions, things can get better here”.
But anyone who expects a fast change you may feel disappointed.
“They had one trip and only a couple of meetings, so you can’t anticipate that the tectonic plates have moved yet,” says Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Council of the Americas and a former State Department official.
“When you start to realize how fundamentally difficult it is going to be to make a meaningful difference, then you start to to have doubts about whether it’s really worth the effort to do that,” he adds.
Venezuela once had the capacity to produce around three million barrels of oil per day. Now it’s under a million. Any increase in production would require huge investment, and that would also require sanctions to be relaxed.
The Middle East, experts say, is the only short term solution.
The enigma of Maduro’s Russia
“Venezuela is currently exporting through China and Maduro is receiving tons of money compared to the last two years,” says Francisco Monaldi, director of the Energy Program for Latin America at Rice University’s Baker Institute in Houston.
“Having said that, the disruption to the markets that is happening will see the Russians shipping tons of oil to China at a deep discount, and that will disrupt Maduro’s business.”
Therein lies the other big issue: the relationship between Russia and Venezuela.
“Violence is the expression of the capitalist world,” Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez said last week. “NATO countries provoking a power like Russia. What do they seek? The annihilation of the entire world? Venezuela raises its voice for peace. You’ll never see us at ranks of war”.
Could the US visit be about more than oil? Perhaps an attempt to change the political loyalties from Venezuela?
“I just don’t see how Maduro would perceive it to be in his interest to turn his back on the Russians in favor of a US administration that has him under indictment by the US Department of Justice,” says Farnsworth.
“What I do think will happen, and maybe has started to happen, is that Venezuelans just will tone it down a bit of rhetoric”.
From enemies to friends-enemies? It is a plausible and welcome possibility. But not everyone is convinced.
Source: Eluniverso
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
