Tag: foreign assets

US Says Approach to Venezuela’s Maduro ‘Not Changing,’ Will Maintain Sanctions

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)1 Comment

US Says Approach to Venezuela’s Maduro ‘Not Changing,’ Will Maintain Sanctions

While Price insists it’s business as usual when it comes to Venezuela, the US has eased sanctions very slightly. After Maduro resumed talks with the opposition in November, the US granted a license to Chevron to resume pumping oil in Venezuela and agreed to release $3 billion in Venezuelan funds that were frozen by US and European banks. Under the deal, the funds will go toward humanitarian and economic development projects.

Previously:

Venezuela: Opposition Parties Oust Guaidó as ‘Interim President’

Venezuela: Opposition Parties Oust Guaidó as ‘Interim President’

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Venezuela: Opposition Parties Oust Guaidó as ‘Interim President’

The parallel AN will appoint a five-person “Administration and Asset Protection Council” to manage resources. The “interim government” had recurring budgets assigned by the US Treasury Department, drawing funds from frozen accounts belonging to the Venezuelan state. Last week, the US Senate approved US $50 million for “democracy promotion” programs in Venezuela for 2023.

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At the time of writing, the US has yet to comment on the reconfiguration of the opposition structures. However, the proposal was reportedly run by US officials during meetings with opposition representatives in Washington.

In the run-up to Thursday’s vote, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Brian Nichols stated in an interview that the Biden administration would follow whatever the anti-government majority decided. An anonymous spokesperson from the US National Security Council likewise told Reuters that the White House would continue recognizing the “interim government” “regardless of the form it takes.”

Next up: Leopoldo López or Henrique Capriles?!

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Venezuela: Guaidó Increasingly Isolated as UN Recognizes Maduro Gov’t in ‘Resounding’ Vote

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Venezuela: Guaidó Increasingly Isolated as UN Recognizes Maduro Gov’t in ‘Resounding’ Vote

The opposition frontman also counts on the support of Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter, who recently published a video about Venezuela on his social media. Kanter, who has grown increasingly critical of regimes that do not favor Washington since becoming a US citizen, was heavily criticized on social media. He had likewise drawn controversy for a racist tirade against Asian-American basketball player Jeremy Lin.

Related:

Celtics or CIA? Gulenist Hoops Star Enes Kanter Rides Both Benches