.jpg "Anomalies discovered at the bottom of the Indian Ocean, possibly the location of the MH370 crash")
.jpg "Real estate market in the south of Hai Duong city is bustling")
.jpg "Extremely dangerous forest fire risk in Kinh Mon, Chi Linh")
-ac017d3d3ce25d3405471795d6bb26f0.jpg "Gia Loc needs over 10 billion VND to invest in renovating and expanding landfills.")
Submit a comment
The United States has reimposed sanctions on Venezuela's oil and gas industry, accusing President Nicolas Maduro's government of "deficiencies" in complying with its commitments under the Barbados Agreement.
In October 2023, the US Treasury Department announced that it would ease most of the sanctions against Venezuela's oil industry, based on President Nicolas Maduro's commitment to hold elections in 2024.
General License No. 44 issued by the US Treasury Department in October 2023, which allows Petróleos de Venezuela, SA (PDVSA), the Venezuelan state-owned oil company, to conduct oil and gas transactions, officially expires today (April 18).
Starting April 18, the US Treasury Department will issue replacement licenses for companies to complete remaining transactions with Venezuelan oil and gas companies related to PDVSA within 45 days, before May 31.
Thus, the US will not continue to renew general license number 44.
This means that previous sanctions targeting Venezuela's oil and gas industry will come back into effect from May 31.
This is the second time the US has imposed sanctions on the South American country's oil and gas industry, since the first time in 2019 under former President Donald Trump.
According to a senior US administration official, Washington “completed a careful review” and determined that the Maduro government “fell short” on some of the deal’s key commitments.
“We are particularly concerned that the Venezuelan government has prevented opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado from running, and has also not allowed her designated replacement candidate, Dr. Corina Yoris, to register as a presidential candidate,” the official added.
According to Washington's explanation, the basis for the US decision not to renew the license was "the failure of the Venezuelan government to fulfill its commitment under the Barbados Agreement to hold free and fair elections."
CNN quoted another senior US administration official as saying that the Maduro government “is not fully compliant with the spirit or letter of the Barbados Agreement.”
"However, this should not be seen as the final decision that causes the United States to lose confidence in Venezuela," the official affirmed, adding that the United States will continue to cooperate with relevant parties, including representatives of President Maduro's administration, the opposition and the international community to ensure a better future for Venezuela.
In October 2023, in the capital of Bridgetown, Barbados, the Venezuelan government and the Venezuelan political opposition signed the Barbados Agreement to ensure that presidential elections will take place in this South American country in 2024.
The Barbados agreement is seen as an important step in finding a way out of Venezuela's protracted economic and political crisis.
According to Forbes magazine, the Biden administration supports signing this agreement as part of its policy of engagement in Venezuela.
