Reuters reported last week that Eni SpA in Italy and Repsol SA in Spain might start exporting Venezuelan oil to Europe as soon as next month to compensate for Russian crude, restarting oil-for-debt swaps that were stopped two years ago when Washington tightened up sanctions on Venezuela.
Despite not inviting Juan Guaido to the Summit of the Americas, a gathering of leaders from North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean that he is convening in Los Angeles, President Joe Biden reaffirmed US support for the Venezuelan opposition leader during a phone call on Wednesday. On his way to Los Angeles, Biden called Guaido from Air Force One. Biden emphasised the United States' "recognition of and support for the 2015 democratically elected National Assembly and Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela," according to a statement released by the White House after the call. He also expressed support for "Venezuelan-led negotiations as the best path toward a peaceful restoration of democratic institutions, free and fair elections."
Last but not least, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan claimed during a meeting with Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro in Ankara that trade between the two countries will reach $1bn this year. Last Tuesday, Maduro visited Turkey, one of the few countries that has maintained ties with Venezuela despite long-standing US sanctions. Despite Washington's harsh sanctions on Caracas, Venezuelan imports of US food and agricultural items are on the rise, with the private sector driving expanded trade between the two erstwhile partners. President Nicolas Maduro also visited Iran, the Venezuelan President met his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi on Saturday at the Saadabad Palace in Tehran. Iran and Venezuela signed a 20-year “cooperation road map” as the two oil-rich countries reeling under US sanctions pledged to boost bilateral ties. |
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