Letter from Caracas: Venezuela and Russia’s fragile oil ties at risk
Moscow’s influence over Caracas uncertain amid upcoming elections and a shift in approach from Washington
Russia has long regarded Venezuela as a geopolitical chess piece, especially in terms of the energy sector, but the recent change in approach from Washington may lead to a breaking point in Moscow’s relationship with Caracas. The Biden administration’s decision to grant Chevron a licence to restart its frozen production in Venezuela was a game-changing move. The ties between Washington and Caracas are clearly in very different shape now to how they were during the government of Hugo Chavez, especially in the context of the war in Ukraine and the changing nature of global oil markets, within which Venezuela could again play an important role as a supplier to the US. Much depends on the politi
Also in this section
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
9 March 2026
Energy sanctions are becoming an increasingly prominent tool of US foreign policy, with the country’s growth in oil and gas production allowing it to impose pressure on rivals without jeopardising its own energy security or that of its allies, argues Matthew McManus, a visiting fellow at the National Center for Energy Analytics






