U.S. officials are concerned that reverting to Trump-era sanctions that accelerated the decline of Venezuela’s oil production would raise the price of gas at U.S. pumps and prompt more migration from Venezuela as President Biden campaigns for re-election in November. Restricting Western oil companies would tighten global energy supplies and open the way for Chinese investment in Venezuela, they say.
Biden administration officials have said they didn’t think that the oil sanctions—leveled against Venezuela in early 2019 in former President Donald Trump’s effort to force Maduro from power—was constructive.
The Biden administration said Wednesday it would allow some American and European oil companies to carry on in Venezuela after U.S. efforts to coax President Nicolás Maduro into democratic overhauls by lifting economic sanctions ended in a hardening of his authoritarian regime.
After Maduro violated an October agreement with the U.S. to stage free and fair elections, the White House was under pressure to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela’s lifeblood energy industry.
Under the new guidelines released Wednesday, a number of Western energy companies that entered Venezuela after the U.S. lifted sanctions and issued a six-month general license permitting oil operations are required to apply for individual licenses from the Treasury Department to remain in the country. Without that license, they must close up operations by May 31.
Why is it so difficult to admit that Communism is the root of the problem?
Communism is a form of anarchism without private property. Socialism is absolute government control, and Communists view it as necessary to get to Communist Classless Anarchy. There has never been a communist nation in history – only socialist ones. Which, if you think about it, should make you hate the Left even more – they are philosophically in agreement with Joseph Stalin.
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
Can economic sanctions ever be justified if they lead to worsening humanitarian crises in the targeted country?
@9LN6JCBRepublican 1mo1MO
You can't form an authentic opinion based on a headline. That is the problem with modern media.
Biden is so serious about "democracy not dying in dictatorships", he is sanctioning Maduro again... just exempting oil and energy companies from the sanctions because he has elections to win
@EmptyChileSocialist1mo1MO
I agree that regime change will have to come from Venezuelans, but there aren’t many signs that this will happen any time soon. The US government offered relief in exchange for some minimal concessions to give the democratic opposition a chance. Maduro reneged. Now, backtracking and not reimposing the sanctions would be a present to Maduro’s dictatorship and a slap on the face of those fighting for a return to democracy.
@AnnoyedG3rrym4nderUnity1mo1MO
Sanctions seem most often to be a means for politicians to score points by posing as strong leaders. Of course, such theater is essential if you want to succeed as a politician and especially for the commander and chief. We seem to want a king... but one we can dismiss when we tire of them.
At any rate, it is hard to see where sanctions have achieved much success unless there is a rapid positive response. When they don't work the first time, tightening sanctions tends to hurt the people but not to threaten autocrats.
Sanctions of Russia have been an abject failure but at least the Russian people aren't suffering serious consequences-
whether that's good or bad. In Venezuela we are hurting the innocent people and not the dictator, apparently. As long as he can siphon enough money to the military he's good to go.
We can't fix every oppressive government
2 weapons at our disposal
Military intervention
Economic sanctions
don't always work and carry unintended consequences.
See Iran/Russia/Afghanistan/
Time for the US to protect itself
Close the border
China buys two thirds of Venezuela's oil exports. The United States doesn't need any oil from Venezuela. As far as debt and borrowing, Venezuela is a risky investment.
The desire for change has to come from within the country.
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
@ISIDEWITH1mo1MO
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