The United States confirms that it will continue its sanctions policy towards Venezuela

Bloomberg – The US government has no plans to change its sanctions policy towards Venezuela without positive action by the government of President Nicolas Maduro, The National Security Council said after a report that the Joe Biden administration would ease some restrictions, including those on Chevron Corp.

The council’s spokeswoman, Adrian Watson, confirmed in a statement that the sanctions policy toward Venezuela “has not changed.” We will continue to implement and enforce our sanctions against Venezuela. As we explained earlier, we will review our sanctions policies in response to the constructive steps taken by the Maduro regime. To restore democracy in Venezuela and alleviate the suffering of the Venezuelan people.”

“We continue to conduct our business under the current sanctions framework provided by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control,” Chevron said in a statement.

The comment came after the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States was preparing to allow Chevron to resume drilling for oil.This paves the way for the reopening of US and European markets to Venezuelan oil exports. The newspaper quoted unidentified people familiar with the proposal.

Venezuela has been under economic and oil sanctions since 2019, after the United States and dozens of other countries recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s legitimate president.

Over the weekend, the Biden administration said Venezuela had released seven Americans, Including two oil executives and a former Marine, in an exchange involving two members of the Maduro family imprisoned in the United States.

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