Letter from South America: Sanction threat fails to curb Caracas
Washington has put oil and gas sanctions back in place while Venezuela prepares for elections. But exemptions remain as the Biden administration looks to domestic gasoline prices ahead of the US’ own elections later this year
For the first time in a long time, Venezuela has a unified opposition and President Nicholas Maduro has genuine cause to worry that a free and fair election could unseat him. Maria Corina Machado, the candidate elected in the opposition primaries, was barred from running by a Chavista court. But she has thrown her weight behind a former diplomat, Edmundo Gonzalez, and it seems as though the electorate is also rallying behind him. The election is still several weeks off and there is no telling what skulduggery may be employed between then and now to strengthen the Chavistas’ position. But one thing remains painfully evident: Venezuelans of all stripes desire change. For President Joe Biden, t
Also in this section
24 January 2025
Domestic companies in Nigeria and other African jurisdictions are buying assets from existing majors they view as more likely to deliver production upside under their stewardship
23 January 2025
The end of transit, though widely anticipated, leaves Europe paying a third more for gas than a year ago and greatly exposed to supply shocks
23 January 2025
The country’s government and E&P companies are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to increase domestic crude output as BP–ONGC tie-up leads the way
22 January 2025
The return of Donald Trump gives further evidence of ‘big oil’ as an investable asset, with the only question being whether anyone is really surprised