– Biden To Renew Venezuela Oil Sanctions If Maduro Continues Barring US-Backed Oppo Candidate:
The Biden administration can’t decide on what to do in Venezuela, though as we’ve noted the priority has clearly thus far been about dropping the pretense that the US actually cares for democracy in pursuit of finding a favorable price at which to stabilize oil during an election year.
The White House now says it plans to restore sanctions on Venezuela’s energy sector, but only if the Maduro government upholds the ban on prominent opposition candidate María Corina Machado. Buying more time, kicking that can a bit further…
Just days ago on Friday, the country’s supreme court upheld a ruling that previously saw her banned from the ballot, which was a reaction by authorities to her open support of US sanctions against Caracas and for allegations of corruption. In a sense, she’s the Juan Guaidó back-up plan.
Going into this year’s Venezuelan presidential election, expected for the latter half of 2024, Maduro officials have accused Machado of doing the bidding of enemy intelligence agencies, namely the CIA.
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