Caracas Asks Wall Street to Push for Sanctions Relief on Venezuelan Oil
Amid high oil prices, the Venezuelan government is urging Wall Street bondholders to press the U.S. government for sanctions relief so that Venezuelan crude can return to the market (Wall Street Journal)
Venezuela and Russia Deepen Ties
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro announced a deepening of military ties between Russia and Venezuela after signing several strategic cooperation agreements on issues related to trade, energy, defense, and financial cooperation (Newsweek)
Venezuelan Opposition Suggests Easing U.S. Sanctions
Opposition leader and President of the Venezuelan National Assembly Juan Guaido suggested the United States ease economic sanctions on Venezuela to bring President Nicolas Maduro back to the negotiating table (Bloomberg)
Separately, an Iranian supertanker began discharging two million barrels of condensate at the main oil port of Venezuela’s state-owned oil company as part of a swap deal that has helped sustain Venezuela’s oil output (Reuters)
United States Extends Ban on Transactions of Citgo Bonds
The U.S. Department of Treasury extended a ban on transactions of bonds held by Citgo, the U.S.-based refining arm of Venezuela’s state oil company, for one year (Bloomberg)
Venezuelan Ruling Party Suffers Rare Defeat in Stronghold State
Little-known opposition candidate Sergio Garrido defeated ruling party candidate Jorge Arreaza to become the governor of Barinas State, the birthplace of former President Hugo Chavez (Bloomberg)
Venezuela Nearly Doubles Monthly Oil Output With Iran’s Help
A deal with Iran to supply a diluent helped Venezuela boost its output in November by 90 percent over its level a year earlier. Venezuela’s state oil company also rolled over old debts (Reuters)
Top Ally of Venezuela’s Guaido to Quit
Julio Borges, the foreign affairs commissioner of opposition leader Juan Guaido, said Guaido’s claim to head an interim government has been “deformed” (Bloomberg)
Amid Low Turnout, Venezuela’s Ruling Party Wins Most Local Elections
With 42 percent turnout in local elections, the ruling party won twenty governorships, while the opposition secured three (MercoPress)
ICC Opens Probe of Venezuelan Government
The International Criminal Court (ICC) will investigate allegations of torture and extrajudicial executions under Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (Associated Press)
Ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Alex Saab, Dismissed on Most Money Laundering Charges
A U.S. judge in Florida dismissed most charges against Alex Saab, an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, except for one charge of conspiracy to launder money (Reuters)
Venezuela’s Former Spy Chief to Be Extradited to the United States
Spain’s high court ruled to extradite Venezuela’s former spy chief Hugo Carvajal to the United States to face charges of drug trafficking and collaborating with Colombia’s FARC terrorist group (BBC)
Venezuela Halts Negotiations in Response to Extradition of Former Aide
Venezuela’s government paused negotiations on the country’s humanitarian and political crisis in response to Colombian businessman Alex Saab’s extradition from Cape Verde to the United States (Associated Press)
Saab, a Venezuelan envoy and ally of Maduro, is expected to appear in a Miami court today on money laundering charges (Miami Herald)
Former Venezuelan Defense Minister Dies of COVID-19 in Custody
Former Venezuelan Defense Minister Raul Baduel died from COVID-19 while in prison due to his alleged involvement in a conspiracy against President Maduro. (Reuters)
Colombia Deploys Fourteen Thousand Soldiers to Border with Venezuela
Upon the re-opening of the Colombia-Venezuela border, Colombia sent fourteen thousand soldiers to its border with Venezuela. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro had completely closed the border in 2019 after a humanitarian convoy tried to cross into the country (Al-Jazeera)
Venezuelan Vice President Says IMF Has Not Delivered COVID-19 Relief
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez accused the IMF of not delivering $5 billion in funds related to COVID-19 relief, even though the IMF authorized the funds in August (Reuters)
Venezuela-Colombia Border Will Reopen Following Diplomatic Crisis
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said it is time to “turn the page” after Caracas closed land borders with Colombia two years ago amid diplomatic tensions (Agence France-Presse)
Venezuela Introduces New Currency
The country is debuting a new currency that features six fewer zeros in an effort to curb hyperinflation (Associated Press)
Venezuela Strikes a New Oil Export Deal with Iran
The agreement has provisions for Venezuela to trade its heavy oil for Iranian condensate, which can be used to improve the quality of Venezuelan crude oil (Reuters)
United States to Give Venezuela $247 Million in Humanitarian Aid
The U.S. State Department announced $247 million in humanitarian aid and $89 million in economic and development assistance for Venezuela (U.S. State Department)
Venezuela Privatizes Thirteen Food Companies
The Venezuelan government is allowing private firms to run at least thirteen previously nationalized food companies as part of a wider privatization plan that is meant to ease the country’s economic crisis (Reuters)
Venezuelan Government and Opposition Reach Partial Agreements in Mexico
Following talks in Mexico mediated by Norway, the Venezuelan government and representatives reached consensus on two issues: social protection, including Venezuela’s COVID-19 response, and territorial claims to Guyana’s Essequibo region (Agence France-Presse)
Venezuelan Opposition Parties End Election Boycott
Venezuelan opposition parties announced that they will participate in November’s regional and municipal elections, ending a boycott on recent votes. The opposition and President Nicolas Maduro’s government are laying the ground for negotiations in Mexico City that are expected to include a discussion on election conditions (Associated Press)
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Released From Jail As Talks Continue
Authorities released politician Freddy Guevara from jail after talks began in Mexico between envoys of President Nicolas Maduro and the Venezuelan opposition. Guevara is expected to join the opposition’s negotiating team (BBC)
Talks Between Venezuelan Government, Opposition Restart in Mexico
Negotiators representing President Nicolas Maduro and the opposition begin talks in Mexico today. Maduro has called for international sanctions to be lifted, while the opposition wants guarantees on conditions for fair elections. The last talks between the two sides broke down in 2019 (Agence France-Presse)
Venezuelan Authorities Arrest, Threaten Opposition Leaders
Authorities arrested opposition figure Freddy Guevara and entered the home of opposition leader Juan Guaido to threaten him with arrest (Bloomberg)