Media: US and Venezuela are close to an agreement to ease sanctions

The US and Venezuelan authorities are close to reaching an understanding on the partial easing of US sanctions, writes Bloomberg, citing sources.

We are talking, according to the publication, about the lifting of some sanctions imposed against the oil and banking sectors of Venezuela. In return, Caracas must take steps to “ensure fair elections.” Such actions include, for example, lifting the ban on opposition candidates running for the presidency of the country. In addition, Washington expects the Venezuelan side to release “dozens” of political prisoners and is ready to lift some restrictions on the entourage of President Nicolas Maduro.

The fact that the United States and Venezuela have made progress in negotiations on easing sanctions was previously reported and Reuters. According to him, representatives of Caracas and Washington held several meetings in Doha on this issue. Separate talks between Maduro envoys and the Venezuelan opposition are said to take place in Mexico in the coming weeks. The United States, according to the agency, could allow at least one more foreign oil company to import Venezuelan crude oil.

Vice President of the Republic Delcy Rodriguez announced back in April that Washington might abandon the ban on European and American oil companies operating in Venezuela. Rodriguez later estimated the cost of the restrictions at $232 billion since 2015. In total, she estimates that 929 unilateral coercive measures were imposed on Venezuela, 60% of which were imposed by the United States.

American sanctions, accompanied by a severance of diplomatic relations with the Maduro government, were introduced back in 2019, when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself acting president. In particular, the restrictions affected the Venezuelan oil and gas state company PDVSA; its assets in the United States worth $7 billion were blocked.

The authorities of the United States, Canada, most European countries and Latin American countries expressed support for Guaido. In turn, Russia, China and Turkey supported Maduro as the legitimate president of Venezuela.